From a female perspective I must admit that I was shocked at some of the things that were said in this movie regarding the choices and motivations in the main character. I understand that soccer is very important to a lot of people around the world but it can never be everything for a father and a husband. For the sport part I have very little to add as my knowledge is somewhat limited but for human aspects of life I do feel the documentary communicates a great insight to what obsession and instinct feels like. However I do feel the film could have been a bit longer as there are parts missing. Nevertheless a truly recommended documentary for us who know little about soccer.
20 Reviews
Hand ball.
nyt1103 August 2010
I believe this film shows all the dirty side of football. As a person from France I feel ashamed to acknowledge the fact that we passed to the World Cup based on cheating that Mr. Hannson could not see. I feel this film shows the problem of being a referee in a nice way and that Thierry Henry should not only apologize to the Irish people but also to Mr Hannson directly. The film is a very nice story about the life behind the "stage" and I will recommend it to people in France who feel very sad about the situation last November. Beautiful portrait of a person in the middle of all the problem and stress that football on this level create..
Lazy officials.
kua19930 July 2010
After watching The Referee I fell a strong urge to ventilate the fact that the referees can be helped by video assists and extra referees, etc. This constant on-going discussion about whether football is just or not have no value anymore as FIFA and UEFA do not make the necessary changes. I believe the personal part of this portrait is interesting and also the part that shows the referee at work but the overall fight against media, fans, etc. seem fruitless. The documentary is a nice example of life outside of the football ground but this Mr. Hansson comes across as a little bit too selfish to be sympathetic in my opinion.
God's Lonely Man.
kua-803-22817228 July 2010
The life of a soccer referee is far, far away from that of the all-too-famous stars of the sport despite the fact that the referees are in the middle of it all. Mr. Hansson who stars in this documentary seems to involuntarily end up in the center of attention on a frequent basis. Whether his mistakes or need-to-be-seen is the driving force behind this is left to the viewer to make out. However one thing is certain about this film, the sport of soccer has lost its track of a game. On top level it has become something far more sophisticated and cynical. Money and politics seem to play far too much a part in this "sport" and the referees are just the tools for great Mafia-style associations like FIFA and UEFA. At the bottom of all this there is the referee, his family, relatives, friends and neighbors. They are all in one way or the other affected by what is going on but no one really seems to care. A truly insightful documentary to the topic of soccer refereeing. Beside the skillful portrait the dramaturgy plays an important and instrumental part in this film. Truly recommended.
Ideals.
kua0552 August 2010
Rettskiparen is an unusual sport documentary because it deals with the personal aspects of being a football referee on top level. Normally sport documentaries are not so keen on what is going on beneath the surface and focuses on the matches and the goals or the conflicts within the team or between players. Instead Rettskiparen deals with the personal sacrifice that Martin Hansson has to go through in order to be a referee. It works very well and is an interesting story from the beginning to end. I would not mind a one hour documentary but the character himself is maybe not interesting enough for that length, who knows? Overall a truly recommended film about a very lonely and idealistic man.
On and off the pitch...
kua13428 July 2010
I find this documentary to be an excellent example of a football/soccer film that deals with the human aspect. Most sport documentaries (I have seen) never get to the core, and usually get stuck on the sport itself, on a character or the specifics therein. This piece did not fall into that trap, instead it shows us what is really going on around this particular football referee and how his family and relatives are affected by his choices and "mistakes"... The last question by the narrator sticks in my mind, and you start to wonder what kind of people choose these kinds of professions. Ultimately a film for anyone who truly cares about football, on and off the pitch. Enjoy!
All things relative.
kuq200030 July 2010
It is interesting to see how "easy" life for a referee can be. In Mexico a referee in the same position as Martin Hansson would need military transport and body guards most of the time if he would do a mistake like in the match between France and Ireland. Everything is relative. In terms of quality it is a good film that shows the negative side of soccer but also a positive side from the angle of the referee. He sacrifices everything, work, family, etc, to be a referee. This must mean he really like soccer and being a referee. I like the way the story escalates towards the end and we are not sure if the referee will make it or not. Good length also most films are too long and detailed.
One decision changes everything
Horst_In_Translation16 July 2015
Warning: Spoilers
This is a half-hour documentary about Swedish referee Martin Hansson. It was made by Mattias Löw who is among Swedens most known filmmakers right now, especially in the documentary genre. Well, said referee was in charge of the game between France and Ireland that caused so much controversy a while ago. Yes he made a terrible decision, but it says a lot more about "fans" if they threaten to kill him than about the referee really. It's a decent little documentary, particularly worth a watch for people with great interest in football. Or maybe for other referee out there. This was done 5 years ago and won really lots of awards back then. I cannot say it's edge-of-the-seat stuff for me, but I was fairly entertained. Especially the scenes that give us an insight into Hansson's private live elevated the whole thing considerably, the football-related scenes, like in the cabin before one game near the end of the film not so much. And I have to say sometimes it was a bit too pseudo-dramatic for my taste. After all, it's "only" football. All in all, I would say the positive is more than the negative and I recommend it.
Criticize the referee.
nyt1203 August 2010
In this movie there is a journalist that mention the fact you must be able to critic the football referee when he makes a bad decision. I think in that statement lies the strength of this film because the referee also believe he should not go to the world cup if he makes a mistake. Which he does. A big one. The filmmakers meet him in very personal situations and also his family and despite the problems he has to survive he still believe that this is what he should do instead of being with his family. I fee after watching this film that referees are just like players and compete just like players. Before I saw the film I did not know that the competition was as strong between the referees. I am very happy to have seen this film and I look forward to more films that look a little deeper inside football and all the controversies around the game.
Being a referee...
kua18030 July 2010
Myself I must admit that Rättskiparen (The Referee) is a story true to reality. The further up on the "ladder" you get the tougher the threats and provocations. I am nowhere near the level of Martin Hansson but colleagues and friends are constantly mentioning how difficult life can be after you make the slightest mistake. I therefore feel that the documentary is real and honest. Also being a referee I feel it is important that people watch these kinds of films in order to get an appreciation for the kind of work we do. I would very much prefer that we were supported by video and extra referees but where do you start and at what level? Time will tell! Enjoy the film!
Interesting documentary about a football referee.
nyt21510 August 2010
Human error are not often portrayed as well as in this rare documentary about the unforgiving profession of being a football referee. Perfection is a goal that absolutely no one can reach and imagine how boring it would be if all referees would be perfect. I suggest every serious football fan that feel they have been cheated at least once take a good look at this nice film about what a relatively small mistake can cost those involved. If the common man would know how his decisions affect his family and relatives I believe we would not have any referees left in this world. But we need them because football wouldn't work without them.
Documentary and dramaturgy.
dutch-804-88578229 July 2010
Rättskiparen or The Referee as it's English title indicates is such a rare thing as a documentary with a driving plot foreboded in many and subtle ways throughout the film. From the very start of the story we feel that something is not right with the world that is portrayed and as we move forward the feel is underscored by the character himself on his journey towards the vision to be a referee at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. This short documentary would possibly benefit from a longer format as we move along in quite a fast pace at times and there certainly is moments that are lost due to the limited format. But that said I do feel it is a film of great and undisputed quality that - in my opinion - gives the football referees around the world a face and body to understand beyond the actual match on the field.
Soccer in the time of cholera.
saulcandy29 July 2010
As far as soccer go I believe it is far to say that being a referee is the most ungrateful job. When you are good nobody notices, see or write about you. When you make a small (or big) mistake the whole stadium, half a million viewers on TV and in other media, every newspaper in the world, etc. take notice. To chose why to be a referee seems the key to this documentary. Everyone around Mr. Martin Hansson seems in one way or the other involved in his choices and ways to an extent that he comes across as a true selfish character. It is a fine personal portrait but also a scary one. Are we prepared to do anything in order to gain some recognition? And why do the referees and FIFA avoid to see how the game could be improved by video assists and other helpful additions? All in all I really recommend the soccer fans who complain about the referees to see this film but also the soccer referees themselves as they do have a thing or two to learn.
Life of a football official
nyt22011 August 2010
In a very true story about the world of football in general and the private sphere of a football referee in particular we meet Martin Hansson who were the referee behind the mistake in the France - Ireland World Cup 2010 Playoff match in Paris. Mr. Hansson is a very normal person in his daily life and seemingly harmonious referee on the pitch. However when he makes the mistake in Paris it seems the facade is falling and Mr. Hansson deeply considers to quit being a referee for more reasons than one. A great film about a very, very tough life in the limelight of today's super fast game of football. Truly recommended to all football fans with or without patience for the officials of the game.
Excellence on life of soccer ref.
sha01815 August 2010
Great piece on the life of a soccer ref mate. In order to really understand what is going on behind the scenes in soccer I feel this documentary piece gives it all away. A nice little tale on one of soccer's more difficult jobs. I believe the ref himself Martin Hansson is scared while watching as he sees himself as quite a selfish guy in-between family, work and soccer. The filmmakers get quite deep into the depressing choices of Martin Hansson's life and also make him say things I find difficult to imagine any referee in any sport would mention. A clean cut ten if you ask me. I just wish there were more honest docs like this one out there for all of us looking for the truth.
Horrible Guy, Great Film.
Sandy-Smile16 August 2010
My first impressions when I was watching The Referee was who is this guy? Is he made of stone or what? Where's the heart? Does he not care about his children at all? Is soccer or any sport for that matter that important? I just felt come on leave the soccer world behind and grow up, man. I feel that the only thing keeping him must be that he makes a serious amount of money doing it and that is something the filmmaker is not touching at so we don't know. Which is probably for the best. Overall a great portrait of a somewhat lunatic man who seems completely obsessed with the idea to be a soccer referee. And one last thing: I would have loved to see the wife in the film. I feel she was not happy-go-lucky about her former husbands choices. Sports, whoa?
Misfortunate referee
doug-ling16 August 2010
I was lucky enough to meet this chap while in South Africa and do feel his misfortunes in Paris during the France and Republic of Ireland game seem a bit unfair. I do sense the mistake in that match was not as grave on the side of the referee as it was on the side of the player. The organizations sacrificed Mr. Hansson in order for the world (and especially Irish fans) to not feel any further animosity to the man himself. Personally I feel Mr. Hansson should have had at least one chance in the World Cup to show his premier display in which he easily could have silenced the world and FIFA's doubts about his true potential. Do look forward to see Mr. Hansson take a long sought after revenge on the not-so-clean international football establishment. Good luck and great film!
Your own choice.
kbaksi00114 September 2010
When a football referee reaches a certain level he is clearly aware of the effects he may be subject to. I believe in the case of Martin Hansson there is no difference. He is an okay referee who made a few grave mistakes but do well most of the time. As he made one very big mistake when the world world were watching you cannot avoid to feel sorry for him. But the fact that he chose football refereeing instead of his family I feel difficult to understand. He is a sad character who deserves little empathy and I hope he understands what the important things in life are before it is too late. Overall an excellent documentary that deserves to be seen by all football fans around the world, even the Irish.
What does it take to be a referee?
hel00110 September 2010
I have always been wondering what kind of people chose to be football referees, and after I watched the Swedish documentary The Referee I kind of understand that there must be a peculiar nerve that keeps the referees going. Martin Hansson seems completely out of touch with the reality he lives in and abandon the family in order to be a referee. He even speaks about his guilt and not being able to provide which seem like quite a feat from the filmmakers but at the end of the day the story portrays a sad and very selfish character that truly seems to have made some seriously bad priorities in life. I just for his own sake that he is a better football referee than father.
Platonic portrait.
gazz00821 October 2010
How much is a person prepared to sacrifice for his job? This film is giving us an idea how important such a seemingly 'unimportant' and invisible role can be. At least for the man himself. The Referee is a rare documentary as it deals with the world in and around football without getting stuck on the football itself. It is a platonic portrait of a very lonely and idealistic man's journey towards justice which he never will be fully able to offer himself or find in the circumstances of football. I think this film should work as a pedagogical study for anyone who wants to become or understand the incredible work a football referee puts himself subject to. The best documentary on football I have ever seen.
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