Short Plays/Shoot/Gaspar Noé/2014
Short Plays (2014) transforms football into a global cinematic experience with 32 short films by directors from diverse backgrounds, including Vincent Gallo, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, and Doris Dörrie. Each segment offers a glimpse into the passion, emotion, and sometimes absurdity of the beautiful game, whether on a dusty African pitch, at a neighborhood match in Mexico, or during an unusual encounter in Europe. The film blends fiction, documentary, and experimental elements, providing a kaleidoscope of unique perspectives where sport becomes a mirror of societies, dreams, and human tensions. At 1 hour and 45 minutes, this cinematic mosaic, sometimes poetic, sometimes brutal, is best enjoyed as a journey around the world, a vibrant magazine where each image tells a story and each shot pulses with the rhythm of collective emotions. An eclectic, audacious, and generous work, it's ideal for those who love exploring culture and passion through art, far from stadiums and statistics, where football becomes a universal language and cinema without borders.
Short Plays (2014) brings together 32 short films about football, but it's Gaspar Noé's Shoot segment that truly captures the viewer's attention. True to his style, Noé transforms a simple gesture—a shot—into an intense and sensory sequence: the camera moves frenetically, bodies collide, and the tension is palpable. Football becomes physical, almost violent, and the viewer feels every impact and every movement. While the other shorts explore the emotions, humor, and poetry surrounding the sport, Shoot impresses with its raw power and immediate energy, reminding us how cinema can bring the power of athletic action to life.
Technical Specifications
Year: 2014
Duration: 105 min
Country: Mexico
Genre: Drama / Documentary / Sport
Directors (selection): Gaspar Noé, Vincent Gallo, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Doris Dörrie, Carlos Reygadas, Karim Aïnouz, Daniel Gruener, Pedro Amorim, Fernando Eimbcke, Pablo Fendrik, Bobo Jelčić, Kiki Sugino
Screenplay: Daniel Gruener, Gabriel González Meléndez
Production: Cinemateli, Arte Mecánica
Photography: Juan José Saravia, Simon Brauer
Synopsis: An anthology of short films exploring the passion for football around the world, each segment offering a unique look at the sport and its cultures.