On 6th August 1942 a team of Ukrainian prisoners of war comprising mainly former professional footballers played a team representing National Socialist Germany. The Ukrainians won 5-1. Three days later a 'revenge' match was played, attended by 2000 spectators, in which the Ukrainians again emerged victorious to the tune of 5-3.
In 1946 the myth of the 'Death Match' emerged in Stalin's Russia(where else?) which claimed that the Ukrainian players were killed by the Nazis as a punishment for winning. This myth was further perpetrated under Brezhnev in the 1960's but has long since been discredited.
Whether or not director Zoltán Fabrí regarded the 'Death Match' as fact or fiction, he and his co-writer Péter Dacsó have used it as inspiration for this simply splendid film which they have transposed to an Hungarian labour camp.
In order to celebrate the birthday of Hitler, affectionately referred to by the prisoners as the 'house painter', a football match is to be played between the prisoners and a German team. Onódi, the only professional footballer in the camp, is given the well-nigh Herculean task of cobbling together and training from scratch a raggle-taggle team. He agrees to do this in exchange for his players receiving better food rations. To cut a long story short the prisoners have somehow managed to level the game at 3-3 when the impartial Italian referee awards them a penalty. Already under sentence of death for having tried to escape, the team knows that if Onódi scores the winning goal the chances of survival are slim. Will he take the penalty.......?
I have only recently discovered Zoltán Fabrí and my admiration for his skills increases with each one I see. His films show a grasp of character, sense of composition and an unbeatable combination of measured pace and momentum. He has here the services of his favoured Ferencné Szécsényi behind the camera and a tremendous cast headed by Imre Sinkovits as Onódi, none of whom is ever caught 'acting'.
There are those who say that Football brings people together but from what I have observed of fans' behaviour, it would seem to have the opposite effect. In Fabrí's film of course it is not just a game but literally a matter of Life and Death.
Subsequent versions cannot hold a candle to this one and that it has thus far only attracted two reviews(including mine!) is deeply depressing.
