Shooting for Socrates

In 1986, the Northern Ireland football team brought hope to the nation when they qualified for the World Cup. Travelling to Mexico, they prepared for the first round of fixtures, which included a historic, David and Goliath-type match against the mighty Brazil. The squad's journey is loosely re-created in this modest sporting drama, with co-writer/director James Erskine charting a path from the qualifying campaign to the big game. At the same time, he also tells a parallel story in Belfast, where the tournament is providing a welcome distraction from the sectarian riots. These scenes highlight how football can bring people together, and Erskine produces some nice moments between a father (Richard Dormer) and his nine-year-old son (Art Parkinson). Unfortunately, though, there's no sense of occasion - you never feel like you're watching a real World Cup - and there are too many sequences that don't ring true. Like the '86 team, Shooting for Socrates falls short of glory.