Eleven Men Out

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Forget sociology and meteorology, I've found the proof that climate affects psychology in a string of soccer films. First sunny Hong Kong gave us the gonzo comedy Shaolin Soccer. Slightly more northerly Hollywood turned out the slightly less wacky Kicking and Screaming, while the footie dramedy Bend it Like Beckham came out of cooler London. Then Germany offered the mild soccer comedy Guys and Balls, which was more whimsical than funny. And now Iceland has gotten into the act with Eleven Men Out, a deadpan drama that's being touted as a hilarious comedy. Is this blatant mismarketing, or is the Icelandic sense of humor different from ours? (The latter notion could shed new light on Bjork's career.) The game plan is broadly the same as Guys and Balls: star soccer player comes out of the closet, his teammates freak out and oust him and an all-gay team is formed to teach the homophobes a lesson. This time the focus is not on a team of larger-than-life misfits but on the familial aftermath of the captain's coming out, particularly his relationship with his son. The film's naturalistic, observational style is free of judgment (and sometimes insight) making for a solid drama that, yes, raises a few smiles along the way.