Zidane, un portrait du XXIe siècle. by Douglas Gordon & Phillipe Parreno (2006).

Also known simply by the title 'Zidane' and the more complicated 'Zidane : A 21st Century Portrait' then, I must admit my main reason for being interested in this film is Mogwai. Yes, the incredibly loud and very cinematic (well to my mind anyway) band are the ones behind the score for this increasingly interesting project. A decade or so down the line since their formation, Mogwai have issued the first album to be recorded from within their personal studio, 'Mr.Beast', and it's a time of change and new challenges for them. Seems that whilst that work was underway they were also working on 'Zidane' at the request of Scottish Artist, the Turner Prize Winning Douglas Gordon.

Working in collaboration then with French film maker Phillipe Parreno, Zinedine Zidane is the subject of a portrait, a realtime 90-minute documentary filmed by more than a dozen cameras within one game back in April of last year, as well as at various locations whilst travelling as part of his team Real Madrid. Clearly, football is a huge part of the culture in Europe, and there have been interesting attempts at films that use football in various manners before. I can't recall a big screen documentary myself, but then I am more of a fan for big matches and tournaments than anything more regular. Looking at the stills of the film, this is something very nice indeed, and I can only hope that there's something truly spectacular crafted here. There's a very brief teaser online at the Official Website for its French release, it's due to open at the end of May 2006. [Source : Mogwai].

'Zidane' The Times Online Article from June 12th 2005.
'Zidane' Douglas Gordon Bigoraphy (PDF file).
'Zidane' Poster & Stills at Comme au Cinema.

'Zidane' Official Website with Embedded Flash Trailer (Band Annonce)