Netflix viewers have been warned they will have to hold back tears after a “heartwarming” film based on a true story became available on the platform in time for the Easter holiday weekend.
The Beautiful Game – which tells the story of England’s homeless footballers during the global annual football tournament, the Homeless World Cup – was added to Netflix on Friday, March 29 and has already received rave reviews from viewers.
Bill Nighy plays the role of the team’s coach, Mal, who tries to lead the team to world fame during the tournament in Rome.
Meanwhile, Michel Ward – who previously won praise for his portrayal of Jamie in the gritty crime drama Top Boy – plays the troubled but talented striker Vinny.
On X, formerly Twitter, users were quick to praise the film, posting: ‘What a beautiful film.
Netflix viewers are being urged to fight back, years after a ‘heartwarming’ film based on a true story became available on the platform
The Beautiful Game tells the story of homeless English footballers during the annual global football tournament, the Homeless World Cup
“But I’m warning you… keep a box of tissues handy when you watch this because you may shed a tear or two.”
Everyone go watch The Beautiful Game on Netflix today!! So heart-warming, special and important’.
Film producer Katie Sinclair, who worked on the film, added her own post, saying: ‘The Beautiful Game is available today on Netflix. The last production I worked on at my old job is coming out.
‘A pure Easter family watch. Challenge yourself not to cry. Based on an incredible real organization’.
Although the film is inspired by the real-life Homeless World Cup and made in collaboration with and supported by the tournament’s foundation, the events depicted in the film are fictional.
Main characters, coach Mal and star player Vinny, are not based on the exploits of real people but were created for the film, but the filmmakers said they used a number of different real-life stories to create an overall script and plot to help formulate.
Some of the individuals on whom the film’s characters are based are listed as “parallel” to their fictional counterparts, including manager Craig McManus and player Lisa Wrightsman.
Speaking about the film, Homeless World Cup Foundation President and Founder Mel Young said: “We are incredibly excited to be the focus of the upcoming film The Beautiful Game.
On X, formerly Twitter, users were quick to praise the film
‘The Homeless World Cup is our contribution to tackling the homeless problem around the world, but there is so much more to do.
“We have proven how powerful football can be when applied to a social issue, and we will continue to strive to do more.
“We hope that the work we do, as told in The Beautiful Game, inspires more people to get involved and support future Homeless World Cups, and together we can all strive to end homelessness forever.”