{{Short description|2014 film directed by James Erskine}} {{Italic title}} '''''Shooting for Socrates''''' is a 2014 Irish film co-written and directed by James Erskine and starring John Hannah, Richard Dormer and Sergio Mur as Brazilian footballer Sócrates.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jun/04/shooting-for-socrates-review-football-northern-ireland-1986-world-cup|title=Shooting for Socrates review – football soothes tension in 80s Northern Ireland|first=Leslie|last=Felperin|date=4 June 2015|via=www.theguardian.com|accessdate=3 May 2020}}</ref>
==Plot== During the 1986 FIFA World Cup the Northern Ireland national football team play against Brazil national football team in one of the most memorable games in Irish footballing history. The film follows the lives of passionate football supporter Arthur and his son Tommy from East Belfast. The lead up to a momentous day in the life of a young boy (his 10th birthday) mirrors the buildup to the big day for the football team as they play the greatest match of their lives.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/film/dgsc7p/shooting-for-socrates/|title=Shooting for Socrates – review|website=Radio Times|accessdate=3 May 2020}}</ref>
==Cast== *John Hannah as Billy Bingham *Conleth Hill as Jackie Fullerton *Richard Dormer as Arthur *Nico Mirallegro as David Campbell *Ciaran McMenamin as Sammy McIlroy *Barry Ward as Jimmy Quinn *Bronagh Gallagher as Irene *Paul Kennedy as Pat Jennings *Chris Newman as Norman Whiteside *Aaron McCusker as Gerry Armstrong *Sergio Mur as Sócrates *Matthew McElhinney as Jimmy Nicholl *Art Parkinson as Tommy *Stephen Hagan as Phil Hughes *Andy Moore as Mal Donaghy *Patrick Buchanan as Alan McDonald *Gerard Jordan as Albert Kirk * Packy Lee as Wigsy * Maggie Cronin as Landlady
==Production== The scenes of the game in Estadio Jalisco in Guadalajara were recreated on Northern Ireland's home turf of Windsor Park in Belfast.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-25111912|title=NI vs Brazil game hits big screen|first=Maggie|last=Taggart|date=26 November 2013|via=www.bbc.co.uk|accessdate=3 May 2020}}</ref>
==Release== The film had a limited cinema release in June 2015 before being released on DVD in October 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/shooting-socrates-review/|title=Shooting For Socrates|date=19 May 2015|website=Empire|accessdate=3 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/shooting-socrates-2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721114344/http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/shooting-socrates-2014|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 21, 2015|title=Shooting For Socrates|website=www.bbfc.co.uk|accessdate=3 May 2020}}</ref> It was "DVD of the Week" in the Irish News.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.irishnews.com/arts/2015/10/09/news/dvd-of-the-week-shooting-for-socrates-280941/|title=DVD of the week: Shooting For Socrates|website=The Irish News|accessdate=3 May 2020}}</ref>
==Reception== On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 29% based on 7 reviews, with an average rating of 4.67/10.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/shooting_for_socrates|title=Shooting for Socrates (2015)|via=www.rottentomatoes.com|accessdate=3 May 2020}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:2014 films Category:Biographical films about sportspeople Category:Irish association football films Category:Irish sports drama films Category:Cultural depictions of Brazilian people Category:Cultural depictions of association football players Category:2010s sports drama films Category:2014 sports films Category:Films about the Troubles (Northern Ireland)
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