Reviewed by Rama Gaind.
Director: Marcus H. Rosenmüller, Icon Film Distribution.
Cast: David Kross, Freya Mavor, John Henshaw, Harry Melling, Michael Socha, Dave Johns, Barbara Young.
An unbelievably true story, The Keeper is told smartly and with impenitent resolve that tugs at the heartstrings. It’s the uplifting story of Luftwaffe paratrooper turned legendary Manchester City goalkeeper Bert Trautmann (Kross).
This is a fine-looking emotional period piece that features victory, catastrophe, bravery and misfortune as traumatised prisoner of war Trautmann is shipped off to the north of England only to find a new calling.
Against a backdrop of British post-war protest and prejudice, this German soldier and prisoner of war played for Manchester City from 1949 to 1964. It was in the victorious 1956 FA Cup final that he became a legend for playing to the final whistle with a broken neck. He became a football icon.
It also looks at how the German POW and a young English woman overcame bias, personal calamity and public antagonism as World War II came to an end.
Struggling for acceptance by those who dismiss him as the enemy, Bert’s love for Margaret (Mavor), an Englishwoman, carries him through and he wins over even his harshest opponents. Fate will soon twist the knife for Bert and Margaret, when their love and loyalty to each other is put to the ultimate test.
This is a sincere blend of historical romance and football from German director Rosenmüller and co-writers Robert Marciniak and Nicholas Schofield.
Kross and Mavor play the lead characters well. Henshaw gives a typically excellent performance as Margaret’s plain-speaking dad.
If you correctly tell us the director’s nationality you could win one of two DVDs of The Keeper. Entries should be sent to [email protected] by Monday, 4 November 2019. Names of the winners will be announced in Frank Cassidy’s PS-sssst…! column on 5 November 2019.
