The director have managed to get an extreme and impressive closeness to the participants. The episodes in this TV-series give a great insight to a world few know about and that has rarely been shown. Great storytelling and structure despite not following the history in a chronological way. Interesting multifaceted characters that speak like real people not like the usual athlete. Very beautiful TV-series and well edited. Overall one of the best, if not THE best TV-series I have seen on Swedish Television. I look forward to more of these types of stories, maybe one day even men's football in Sweden will "deserve" a portrait like this...
14 Reviews
Outstanding!
kua09918 July 2013
From the great lines of qualitative entertainment coming out of Swedish Television I believe this year's best effort is by far Den andra sporten (The Other Sport in Swedish), a three episode series on the history, conditions and development of women's football in Sweden since the 1960's. The filmmakers have close-up and truly insightful access to all the main people of the movement and this in connection with a beautiful visual language and editing makes for a great, great experience watching the fight and struggle these women have had to endure for over 45 years. The story is told in a way even a not-so-sport-interested person can follow and enjoy. It always feels like a luxury living in a country where this type of public access TV is produced and shown without commercials or advertisement.
Classy stuff on history of Swedish women's soccer.
kua04524 July 2013
This is a TV-series about the history of women's soccer in Sweden without following in chronological way, at least not for the first two parts. Instead the filmmaker follow characters that have done a great job for the sport in order to show the struggle players and coaches have had to encounter over the last 45-50 years just to do what they like, play soccer. It is with intriguing portraits and a very good feel that the filmmaker offers us a great insight to the world of women's soccer and the road these women have had to travel. We meet the main characters, yesterday and today and we also get a bit of a feel for the future of women's soccer and what is needed to keep the sport in a momentum. A very good series.
Sport TV series about the fight behind a movement.
kua04719 July 2013
Excellent story in three episodes about the struggle and enormous will-power of the women that did want to play football and then wanted to show how could they were. Not with focus on actual games more on the social-cultural side of the sport that in many ways always have been regarded secondary to men's football. Today however women's football is famous and big in all its own right as both organizations, audiences and sponsors have understood the powers of the women's game. The other sport tells the story of the first generation and the ones in-between in a very enticing way and with in- depth interviews and great structure manage to capture the essence the women's game. Very, very much worth your while to watch. Truly recommended.
What a fight!
kua18031 July 2013
I never thought I would spend one second watching women's soccer in my life but after watching this TV-series I ended up watching the whole Euro Championship in Sweden during the summer 2013. I got completely involved in the women that have fought for their rights to play the game. And considering that things have changed but not as much as one would expect it was certainly easy to find sympathy for the coaches and players even in 2013. From now on the series Den andra sporten has opened a window for me that I doubt will ever be closed, I am going to follow up on the series as well as on the present Swedish national team for women. A really great documentary effort by Swedish Television that I hope many get a chance to see even outside of Sweden.
Beautiful on women's footballing conditions!
nyt20817 July 2013
A documentary series in three episodes released by public access Swedish TV-channel SVT that shows the story of how the movement of women's football (or for Americans; soccer) came about in Sweden from the late 1960's. A very nice and stylish tale of fight and injustice that does not aim at telling everything in detail and instead focuses on particular characters that has been important for the overall forward-movement of this the other sport (Den Andra Sporten) that not necessarily refer to a less good version of football rather a different one that may, or may not, be as good if not better than the first one being men's football. The director have managed to reach each character with brilliant sensibility and respect and this warm and generous contact really communicates through the screen. For people interested in what women have to go through to do what they want, like and believe in this is an invaluable documentary TV-series, and not just telling the story of football.
Mycket underhållande kamp.
kua11529 July 2013
I saw the three episodes of Den andra sporten (The Other Sport) just before the the UEFA 2013 Women's Euro and must say that it was among the best TV-series I have ever seen. It caught me from the first minute to the last. The interviews, the archival footage, the rhythm, pace and music, everything was of excellent standard. The audience get closer and closer to the source of women's football in Sweden (the world?) since the 1960's. We meet the most important women and men and they let us know what resistance they have met on the road. It is very, very much recommended to watch this series for anyone interested in seeing what it could be like to to do sports being a woman. Even in 2013.
Excellent!
nyt21430 July 2013
Great story about the history of women's football in Sweden. The documentaries move forward all the way through as if you were on a journey for over two hours in total. And what a journey these fighting women have had. From the beginning to the end they have met resistance around every corner and it sure seems it has made them stronger in their pursuit of playing football on the same terms as the their male counterparts. The series is in three chapters of different and free approaches, which in my opinion makes it even stronger, to the subject matter. The last chapter Leken som blev allvar is the only chronological chapter. The part where one will get an idea of the story from the beginning to the end. Truly, truly recommended documentary series.
Utmärkta porträtt av damfotbollens kämpar!
gua17825 August 2013
Have just seen this three-part series about the Swedish women's football and its history and must immediately point out what incredible work the creators of this series managed to do. The history bite into one of beginning and we follow several generations of Swedish female football players fight for a get involved with their sport. think it is much more to tell, even if the three programs get with it Most and related managed to establish contact and proximity to the participants that I rarely seen before in Swedish television. Would really recommend these titles to those who talk about women's football in condescending terms with the hope that they understand that it is not in any way been easy to participate in this trip since the 1960s.
Brilliant fight!
gua17725 August 2013
Saw this title without any information about its content beforehand and must say it was a true delight to be able to see the struggle that women in Sweden (of all places) had to encounter in order to play football/soccer. Strangely enough they won, which obviously isn't always the case when it comes to women and competitive sports, and also managed to create a niche for themselves that seems to groove constantly. The filmmaker(s) did a great job on accessing the characters and theme. I recommend this series to everyone interested and not interested in women's football/soccer. You won't be disappointed, trust me!
Bittersweet documentary series!
gua18825 August 2013
Women's soccer does not seem like the most uplifting piece of action one could imagine but in The Other Sport - three episodes of 45 mins - the filmmakers have really managed to create some serious drama in addition to an interesting nonlinear story I do want to follow to the end. At first we meet the present generation that did not have to fight as their peers, then we meet the peers and finally we do get a glimpse at what have happened since the official beginning some 45-50 years ago. Well told close to the characters and true to the format, The Other Sport is close to a masterpiece on a sport few find enticing. Though this series is well worth your time!
Very bravo!
gua18625 August 2013
Not really sure if it is about the history of women's football in Sweden or if it is about the conditions of women's football in Sweden but anyway it is very good and entertaining for over two hours. When Swedish Television do something documentary good it is usually really good and Den Andra Sporten is no exception to that. Great story, interesting, intriguing characters and an authentic part in the struggle these women have gone through. I feel it was a difficult subject matter to approach as women's football in Sweden often have been a very hot topic that few wanted to touch and say something about, however this mini-series certainly succeeded in making the women wanting to play football in Sweden interesting.
Think again!
gua21828 August 2013
I just watched this again the other night. It's probably the ninth or tenth time I've seen it, and I think it gets better every time. I think some of the footage they are showing from the history of women's football actually looks really, really, great. And finally, I think if some people make negative comments about women's football they need to look in the mirror and think about themselves a bit. OK, you don't like the sport or this TV-series, that's fine, but I've seen enough smug, superior, comments online about women's football to make me want to puke. I love how as long as you love doing something you will do it whatever people around say or do. I'm sure most of the people making the comments about women's football consider themselves liberals too; as if they have any concept of what that word means.
What a story of women's football in Sweden!
gua21227 August 2013
Just found this online and saw it with open eyes from the beginning to the end without stopping. What a fantastic story about some great women who have tirelessly fought their way through preconceptions and male chauvinism in addition to the lack of beliefs from the world around, etc. I had no idea that the sport was such a looked down upon thing very recently and must say it did open my eyes wide. I can really really recommend this series for everyone interested in documentaries but also for people who like to understand what women have to go through in order to do what the like. This is a true masterpiece in both cases.
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