Now Showing: Offside

 

Offside

Genre: Drama/Sports

Director: Danny Cannon

Writer: Wyatt Allen

Cast: Damson Idris, Adele Exarchopoulos, Diego Luna, Morena Baccarin, Mackenyu

Plot: Emirates Stadium in London, Arsenal FC is playing Aston Villa. The score is 1:1, not much time left. Arsenal is pushing for the winning goal, the home team is supported by their loyal fans. Arsenal player Jalen Igbinoba (Damson Idris) is encouraging the fans to be even louder, just after the ball got out of play and is about to be thrown in by Arsenal. Coach Ruben Pereira (Diego Luna) is motivating his players to give everything for the last minutes of the game. The ball is getting thrown to Igbinoba on the right sideline he takes on his defender and gets past him, moving into the penalty area. He dribbles past another defender but gets tripped by him. The referee blows his whistle and awards a penalty to Arsenal. Igbinoba confidently takes the ball , wanting to shoot the penalty himself. He lays the ball down, takes few steps backwards and takes a deep breath. The whole stadium is quiet in that moment, nervous to see if Igbinoba can get them the win. He starts his run-up but hesitates and completely stops just before hitting the ball with his feet. The goalkeeper already commits to jump to the left side of the goal, before the ball even moved. With a cheeky smile on his face, Jalen Igbinoba nonchalantly lobs the ball into the middle of the goal, scoring the 2:1. He is running to the corner celebrating with his teammates and the home fans.

Inside the locker room Coach Ruben Pereira (Diego Luna) is speaking to the team, praising them for showing a great mentality by getting a win in the end. Jalen Igbinoba is sitting next to Jun Inoue (Mackenyu) who didn’t play tonight and was only watching his teammates play while sitting on the bench. Jun is hyping up Jalen but it’s evident that he is bit let down because he wasn’t getting any playing time. Jalen tells Jun that his time will come and together they will be tearing up the league in no time. Coach Pereira is putting his arm around Jalen’s shoulder and tells him if he ever needs anything Jalen can always count on him. When Jalen finally leaves the locker room he meets up with his agent Rafaela dos Santos (Morena Baccarin), she tells him if he continues to play and score like that, the English national coach will have no other choice than to start him.

Jalen steps inside his Lamborghini Gallardo to finally drive home. He lives in a beautiful luxurious penthouse where he is looking for his girlfriend, but even after saying her name multiple times he gets no reaction, until his girlfriend Celine Poitier (Adele Exarchopoulos) finally steps into the living room with nothing but a bathrobe on. She tells him that she waited eagerly on his arrival, just before dropping the bathrobe to reveal her naked body to Jalen. Celine tells him that she that she wants to make out with the star from Arsenal London, while Jalen doesn’t hesitate at all to come close to her, kiss her and bring her inside their bedroom. He lays her down on their bed and starts to kiss her body. They have sex.

Inside the facility everyone is happy to see him. He sees Coach Pereira who greets him with a warm hug. . He talks about their Champions League away match against A.C. Milan and they have to continue to play exactly like that and they are going to be very successful this season. Jalen agrees and adds they have to continue to work really hard to stay on that level or even get better. He also asks the coach to consider to give Jun Inoue a bit more playing time. He tells him that Inoue didn’t have the easiest time making the move from Japan to England, but he adapted really well and he is ready for some minutes. Coach Pereira tells him he will think about it.

Jalen is in his apartment watching some tape on himself, analyzing what he can do better while his girlfriend Celine is sitting next to him, not understanding what Jalen is talking about. It is raining, Celine is complaining about the weather in London. Jalen tells her that Rafaela is checking if a move to Madrid or Paris would be possible the next summer, it would mean Jalen taking the next step by playing for Real Madrid or PSG, giving him the realistic chance to win the Ballon d’Or. He asks her to come to Milan with him for the Champions League game, Coach Pereira normally doesn’t allow wives or girlfriends coming along but he is sure Coach would make an exception for him. Celine is happy that Jalen asks her, but she can’t come as she is booked for a photo shooting in London.

The team arrives at the airport in Milan and is surrounded by fans and reporters. It is clear that Jalen gets the most attention from them, he seems to be the face of the team. Jalen is not bugged by it, on the contrary he seems to enjoy the attention and tries to make a picture with everyone who wants one with him.

At night at the hotel. We can see Jalen, Jun and a couple other players sneaking out of the hotel. They visit a Milanese night club and let off steam. Champagne, beautiful women, other people wanting to party with them. Fans make pictures of them and also with them, some are concerned that they party before the match.

The next day, we are in the San Siro in Milan, the game is already on, there are about 30 minutes left. We see the scoreboard, it’s tied 1:1, Jalen scored the goal for Arsenal. Arsenal is making a change, the young Jun Inoue comes on. With him the game gets a new dynamic, his tempo dribblings create holes in the defense of AC Milan. A deadly through ball form Inoue is freeing Jalen Igbinoba from his defender to score the 2:1. Now the home team is trying to tie the game again and is pushing Arsenal into their own half. In a courageous effort from Inuoe, he can win the ball back and play it long to Jalen Igbinoba, who is too fast for his defenders and has a one one one with the goalkeeper. Instead of shooting it he is dribbling past the keeper, before scoring on an empty goal to make it 3:1. Jun and Jalen are celebrating together.

After the game in the locker room, Jalen is asked to do a routine doping control. His teammates make fun of it telling him that after that game, it could have only been him.

Late at night the team is on a private plane back to London. Jalen and Jun sit next to each other. Jalen tells Jun that he did great today and he has to continue to work hard. Jun seems bothered by something, Jalen asks him about it. Jun says that there are rumors that their trip to the night club was leaked to the press and the coach will be furious if he hears about it. Jalen isn’t worried, he tells Jun that they’ve won the game and that is everything they need to do. Jun is putting his headphones on trying to go to sleep, while Jalen is watching the view from above.

Back in London Jalen is working out at Arsenal’s training facility. He suddenly gets interrupted by what seems to be a very angry coach Pereira. Coach Pereira wants to see Jalen in his office. In the coach office, coach asks Jalen why Jalen is dragging his reputation through the mud. Jalen asks him if this is about the night club. Coach reads from a report he has in front of him. It is about higher testosterone levels caused by banned substances, all found in Jalen’s urine sample. Jalen is sure that this has to be a mistake, he ensures him that he wouldn’t do something like that, He wants to do another test, he is sure that the b test will be negative. The coach is hoping that Jalen is telling the truth, Jalen ensures him again that he is. Jalen wants to continue his workout, but coach tells him that he can’t use the training facility as there are regulations that suspend him from using the team’s facilities until he is proven innocent. Coach tells him to leave.

Jalen leaves the facility and on his way out a horde of reporters are already waiting for him. The reporters are asking him about the allegations and why Jalen chose to cheat, but Jalen manages to get through them to reach his car. He drives away but on his ride his agent Rafaela calls him. She directly asks him if it’s true. Jalen ensures her that he didn’t take anything and that he has no idea what this is about. Rafaela tells him to stay calm and not post anything on social media or give any interview. She tells Jalen that she reaches out to Jalen’s doctors and physios to make a list of the meds and supplements that Jalen took.

Jalen is at home sitting on the floor leaning on his bed, he doesn’t know how to handle the situation. His girlfriend Celine is coming home and is shocked to see Jalen like that. She asks Jalen what is going on and he explains her everything. She tells him that if it’s really just a misunderstanding everything will be fine in no time. Jalen is scared that he will forever be known as a cheater after that, even if he proves that he didn’t take anything.

The next morning Jalen comes home from a run. He drinks a protein shake and turns on the TV. So-called experts are talking about Jalen’s case, calling it a shame for the sport. One even the hopes that Jalen Igbinoba will never set a foot on a football field again. Jalen gets a call from Rafaela, she tells him she got the list of medicines and supplements he got prescribed, checked. She tells him that there is one supplement on this list that is banned. Jalen tells her he had no idea, Rafaela believes him but sadly it doesn’t change the fact that he took it. She tells him to stay as low key as possible, she will sent him a text that he can post on his social media channels, she will look for a private coach while they wait to see how long Jalen will be suspended for. Jalen doesn’t answer to that he seems apathetic. After the call the anger gets to him and he starts to destroy his apartment’s interior. Celine is trying to calm him down, not knowing what happened, Jalen pushes her away from him, while he tells her that she doesn’t understand what this means to him. He will lose everything, his car, his apartment and even Celine will find someone else if he can’t afford this lifestyle anymore. She will jump to the next guy with money, just like she jumped to him from her ex boyfriend. Celine slaps him in the face and tells him that she will sleep in a hotel for a while.

Jalen is at the Arsenal training facility emptying his locker. On his way out he is running into Coach Pereira. Jalen asks him if he has some time to talk, but the Coach tells him he is busy. Even after Jalen ensures him it will only be a few minutes, Coach still gives him the cold shoulder. Jalen replies that the coach told him he could always count on him.

At home Jalen is standing in the way while Celine packs the rest of her things. Jalen apologizes to her, saying that he didn’t mean it like that, he was just emotional. Celine tells him there is no need apologies, as he was right. He really is a nobody without football. She heard that Jalen will be banned for four years, so his career is basically over.

Jalen sits down in his agent Rafaela’s office, he seems very down. Rafaela is there for him and tries to cheer him up. Jalen is thinking about retiring and stepping out of the spotlight, but Rafaela tries to encourage him by talking about how she tries to shorten his suspension to maybe just a year and a half. She tells him the world loves a comeback story and they will find him a new club where he can show everyone how good he is. She just asks him not to read any comments and maybe stay away from social media for a while.

Jalen is in a private gym, training as hard as he can until he physically can’t do another rep. On an empty field he shoots free-kicks. He closes his eyes envisions a full stadium. He puts the ball in the top right corner of the goal, the imaginary fans in the imaginary stadium celebrate him.

Jalen is at his home on the couch, checking his phone. He looks at his chat history with Jun. We see a couple texts from Jalen who were left unanswered. Jalen puts on highlights from the latest Arsenal match, Coach Pereira and Jun Inoue are being praised by the press for upping their play after Jalen’s ban. Jalen continues to scroll social media, where he sees a post about his match being reduced from 4 years to one and a half years. A few comments are showing support for Jalen but most are hating and calling Jalen things. He takes a look at Celine Poitier’s profile. There is no hint of their relationship left and the newest picture shows Celine with a new man. Jalen decides to go jogging.

Months pass by before Jalen meets up with Rafela in her office. She tells him she a surprise for him, a present he has to unpack. She tells him it’s a step back but nonetheless a great opportunity to prove himself. Jalen unwraps it and it’s a jersey from F.C. Fulham. Rafaela adds that they want him. Jalen is ecstatic, Rafaela tells him that because of the ban he still can’t train with the team, but they will assign him a personal coach and will try their best to integrate him to the team.

Half a year later. Fulham vs. Arsenal. Jalen is sitting on the bench, waiting for his time to come on the pitch. It’s raining heavily, the game is hard fought. Fulham scores the first goal but Arsenal can equalize and has a lot of chances to take the lead, but the halftime whistle saves Fulham from worse. The Fulham coach is telling Jalen to get ready as he comes on in the second half. Jalen is intensively warming up through the halftime break, while taking a look at the stadium and the fans that once celebrated his goals.

When Jalen is switched into the game we can hear a couple boos going through the stadium, but Jalen is trying his best to remain unbothered by it. Jalen has trouble getting into the game, the ball bounces off of his feet, misplaced passes, turnovers, not Jalen’s best performance. The whole team is having a hard time, it seems like Arsenal taking the lead is inevitable. Not a lot of time left as Coach Pereira is pushing his team forward just shortly before Jun Inoue can get an open look from a well executed play and scores the 2:1. It seems like the dagger, but this time it’s Jalen who is trying to push his team forward. 85th minute, time is running against them as Jalen tries to score from distance. A beautiful curved ball – it’s goes over the crossbar. The faith dies slowly. Arsenal is trying to keep possession, Jalen encourages his teammates to press them. A mistake caused by a slipping Arsenal player, lets the ball go out of play, directly into Coach Pereira. Jalen takes the ball from him for a split second there eyes meet. He throws the ball in, but directly gets it back. He pushes his tempo dribbling right at the defense. He takes on one defender and wants to take on the next but is fouled. Fulham gets one last free kick.

Jalen puts the ball down and takes a couple steps back. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. Thoughts of his tough last years go through his mind, the hate, the insults, the people who left him. He opens his eyes, the ref whistles, Jalen runs at the ball and shoots it over the defensive wall. It looks like its too high, but shortly before reaching the goal it curves down hitting the goal directly under the crossbar in the top right corner. The keeper has no chance - goal! His teammates are jumping at Jalen, almost burying him under them. The referee ends the game. Jalen Igbinoba is back.

After the game Jun Inoue comes up to Jalen and congratulates him on his performance, he tells him he is a great player and that he wouldn’t be here without him.

Jalen and his teammates are going over to the fans to thank them for their support. But it’s not just the Fulham fans supporting Jalen, as we can see many Arsenal fans chanting the name of their former star player. Jalen thanks them by applauding them with a smile on his face, he missed this.