Ironic it may be for FIFA to ask those across the globe to unite under the beautiful game after ripping it limb from money-filled limb, United Passions does just that. A Sepp Blatter apology piece that hopes to rub shoulders with the history of the good, founding intentions. To bring international football to a stage that slight level higher, and with good reason to do so. United Passions does not do that. It hopes to engage with propaganda of the blandest and obvious form as it parades around those who set up the organisation, the brief and blinkered history of it and the current phase it finds itself in. It is a feature-filled with blackmail and poor intent, no surprises there.
Although its opening is dull and director Frédéric Auburtin is attempting to pass off Gérard Depardieu as Jules Rimet, United Passions is pretty much the only high-profile feature to get as close a glimpse as this to the history of FIFA. It is not, as it turns out, all that interesting. A history so brief that the highlights could be written up on the back of a coaster in the dimly lit pub this feature was likely written in. Depardieu (looking the absolute spitting image of Rimet of course) has little to offer this piece – one of many casting choices that look to provide big names in the big roles to hit that box office where it hurts. Tim Roth and Sam Neill are also present, with the controversy now surrounding FIFA marking this an embarrassing blemish on some otherwise solid filmographies.
With Rimet’s era dominating much of the first hour of the feature, United Passions is clearly biding its time, hoping it does not have to deal with the obvious controversies that, at the time of this release, dominated the organisation. Jemima West gives a monotone performance as Rimet’s daughter, Annette, a completely unmoved performance that sees that emotional edge shifted into place. As long-form a period piece as it is absolutely dull, it is incredible just how much of United Passions is reliant on a general acceptance of the corruption at the heart of its story being completely brushed over. Ending at South Africa being handed World Cup 2010 is a rather telling sign. Who knows what happened after that…
Everyone knows what happened after that. As Roth and company go about marking Blatter as a hero who stood up to corruption and had a thick, East London accent. That latter is likely truer than the former. Still, according to United Passions, João Havelange was an Australian with a twang of American to him. Casting based on who would take the grubby money over the ethics of the actual story at the heart of United Passions. That is the real shame. There is a chance, for all the solid set pieces and ideas it can conjure, to make something great. Unfortunately, and rather obviously United Passions hopes to remove any sentiment of real unity. The only unity here is one of utter contempt for the ethics and moral choices United Passions hopes to twist.
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