‘Heysel 85’ film hits UK cinemas from 20 November
Icon Film Distribution has confirmed the UK theatrical release of Heysel 85, with the film set to hit cinemas from 20 November. This comes after the movie's world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival and its subsequent UK premiere at the 70th BFI London Film Festival. The announcement positions the feature for a wide audience in British theaters shortly after these high-profile screenings. The distributor's statement emphasizes the arrival of the film in the UK market on that specific date.
The narrative is set at Heysel Stadium in Brussels for the 1985 European Cup Final pitting Liverpool against Juventus. Thousands of supporters gather at the ground, where longstanding club rivalries heighten the tense atmosphere. The situation quickly escalates into violence. As the number of fatalities increases, the mayor's daughter and an Italian journalist become entangled in the crisis. They struggle to balance their professional duties with family loyalty amid the unfolding tragedy.
The film presents an unflinching portrayal of an event that football might prefer to set aside. It explores themes of moral versus professional responsibility along with the dangers of escalating tensions and politically motivated cover-ups. By combining drama and documentary styles, the production immerses the audience in the stadium during the disaster. The story underscores the serious repercussions, notably the multi-year ban on top English clubs from European competitions.
Award-winning director Teodora Mihai, whose previous film was La civil, helmed Heysel 85. The cast is led by Violet Braeckman, known for her work in War, with Matteo Simoni from Callboys and Josse De Pauw from Everybody's Famous! also starring. The full cast list includes Fabrizio Rongione, Paolo Calabresi, Bobby Schofield and Ben Segers.
At its world premiere during the Berlin International Film Festival the film garnered substantial acclaim for its candid look at the human and political dynamics of the tragedy. Variety characterized the work as an anxiety-inducing piece of cinéma vérité that stays riveting at every turn. The review highlighted it as a stark reminder of the links between soccer and corruption.
Further reviews have echoed this positive response. Sight & Sound deemed it an impressive achievement. UK Film Review gave it three stars and called it an important, powerful film. The Upcoming also awarded three stars and described the film as uncompromising.
The completed film runs for 92 minutes and has received a 12A certificate. It details the consequences that included a lengthy prohibition on English clubs participating in European football events following the disaster at the stadium.
