Overview
A group of determined women defy the odds to witness a historic football match in Tehran.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- spirited
- fierce
- political cinema night
- sports movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as an energetic, intelligent, and humane comedy that uses a football match to examine gender politics in Iran.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The story unfolds around the actual Iran-Bahrain football match filmed in Tehran in 2005.
The women's attempts to enter the stadium turn guards, ticketing rules, and gender segregation into sources of both humor and political criticism.
The women dress as men to evade the ban on female spectators at the stadium.
The World Cup qualifying match galvanizes Tehran while exposing who is permitted to participate in the national celebration.
Films like Offside, and why
Persepolis
shared focus on gender inequality, social restrictions, and humane political comedy
The Circle
shared Iranian setting, childlike directness, neorealist observation, and institutional critique
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
shared use of comedy and everyday encounters to expose gender politics and social absurdity
The Cup
shared sports-centered social realism, ensemble tension, and collective national stakes
Movie Details
- Director
- Jafar Panahi
- Release Date
- 2006-05-26
- Runtime
- 93 min
- Rating
- 7.0 / 10 (142)
Cast
- Sima Mobarak-Shahi
- Shayesteh Irani
- Ayda Sadeqi
- Golnaz Farmani
- Mahnaz Zabihi
- Nazanin Sediq-zadeh
- Safar Samandar
- M. Kheyrabadi
- M. Kheymeg Kabood
- Mohsen Tanabandeh
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Offside about?
- Women disguised as men challenge Iran’s stadium ban while a World Cup qualifying match turns everyday gender politics into sharp, exuberant comedy.
- What is Offside like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Offside as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Offside violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Offside.
- What did critics think of Offside?
- Critics broadly praised the film as an energetic, intelligent, and humane comedy that uses a football match to examine gender politics in Iran.
- Which films are like Offside?
- Films with a similar feel include Persepolis, The Circle, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, and The Cup.
- How long is Offside?
- Offside runs 93 minutes.
- Where can I watch Offside?
- In United States, Offside is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
