The Match is a 2021 Croatian-American sports historical drama directed by Dominik and Jakov Sedlar and starring Franco Nero, Armand Assante, and Caspar Phillipson. The film was inspired by true events which transpired in the spring of 1944.
Plot
To commemorate Adolf Hitler’s birthday, the Nazis organized a football match between an elite Nazi team and a squad of inmates from the camps made up of ex-footballers and political prisoners. Led by the former Hungarian football captain the team of prisoners are winning by virtue of their skills. During the half time they are given an assurance that they win freedom if they lose deliberately. However, despite all the obstacles confronting them, they are determined to win no matter what happens. The story is told in flashback by the last member of the team, then a boy, who manages to survive.
Cast
Franco Nero as Branko
Caspar Phillipson as Colonel Franz
Armand Assante as Commander
Markus Gertken as General
Viktor Kulhanek as Young Branko
Andrej Dojkić as Laszlo Horvath
Filip Tallhamn as Karolyi Faraco
Philippe Reinhardt as Henckel
Milton Welsh as Peter
Paško Vukasović as Tibor
Inva Mula as Magda Stekely
Andrea Zirio as Sandor Stekely
Robert Maaser as Hans Gruber
Lujo Kunčević as Tomasz
Mateo Kovačić as Footballer #1
Dejan Lovren as Footballer #2
Ivan Colarić as Janko
Release
The film premiered at The Jewish International Film Festival in New Zealand on July 25, 2021, and it was released theatrically in the United States, on October 29, 2021, by Mutiny Pictures. On December 2, 2021, the film had its television premiere on Showtime Networks.
Music
The film's soundtrack was composed by Croatian composer Dalibor Grubačević. It was distributed under Plaza Mayor Company on August 20, 2021.