The Art of Football
Legendary British comedian John Cleese explaining the offside rule.
Project Description
“The whole knowledge of the human soul passes through a football field”Albert Camus“The Art of Football” stars England’s best comedian John Cleese. As a passionate football fan himself, Cleese takes us through the art of football with more laughs a minute than you’d ever expect regardless of the type of sport.It is an exciting journey through the creative world of football, an entertaining, instructional look into a sport that draws a larger crowd than the Olympics. More money than Hollywood. More media coverage than any politician.The film explores the different facets of football and the arts. Creatively and artistically. Director Hermann Vaske talked to football legends like Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer, Michel Platini, Kaká and Thierry Henry as well as referee-legend Pierluigi Collina.
Left: The greatest footballer of all time Pelé and Hermann VaskeRight: Henry Kissinger and Hermann Vaske talked about football in New YorkAlongside the athletes, several artists, musicians and politicians also get to share their thoughts on the art of football. Wim Wenders follows football with the same enthusiasm as the actors Keith Allen and Dennis Hopper. Tony Kaye, Dave Stewart and Henry Kissinger are big football fans. As Arsenal’s coach Arsène Wenger notes: “Football is a branch of creativity, a branch of the arts.”“The Art of Football” paints a humorous, ironic picture of the sport. The film proves that football is a creative art form overcoming all language barriers regardless of geography.
Left: Cleese on set in Santa BarbaraRight: John and Hermann going through the screenplay
Left: John Cleese on footballTop: John Cleese with comedic sidekick Tom KonkleBottom: John and Hermann heading the ball
Left: Star referee Pierluigi CollinaRight: Exceptional striker Thierry Henry
Left: Ruut van NistelrooyRight: Football star Michael Ballack
Left: Rudi VoellerRight: Franz the Kaiser Beckenbauer gave us a great interview
Left: Creative coach Arsène WengerRight: Mia Hamm
Left: Passionate football fan Wim WendersRight: UEFA President Michel Platini
Project Credits
A Hermann Vaske Film
Produced by Hermann Vaske’s Emotional Network and Studio Hamburg
- Director:
- Hermann Vaske
- Writer:
- Chris Langham, Hermann Vaske
- Commissioning Editor:
- Hans Robert Eisenhauer
- Executive Producer:
- Bernard Brochand, John Cleese, Nizan Guanaes
- Co-Producer:
- Oliver Herder, Gerd Richter-Kiewning
- Production Coordinator:
- Jennifer Feist
- Camera:
- Máté Tóth, Goran Pavicevic
- Music:
- Michael Kadelbach
- Editor:
- Bastian Ahrens
- Postproduction:
- ACHT Frankfurt
- Postproduction Supervisor:
- Oliver Kähler, Sarah Klug
- Production Assistants:
- Kristofer Koch, Timo Breidenbruch
Germany, France 2006, 112 min.