4. The Ground we won – 8.1
With great bawdiness and camaraderie, an eclectic rugby team of farmers strive to redeem themselves from a long run of bitter loses.
A cinema verite study of contemporary manhood as observed through the rites and rituals of a rural New Zealand rugby club.
3. The Rugby Player – 8.3
THE RUGBY PLAYER is an uplifting and stereotype-shattering documentary that tells the story of a mother, a son, and what it takes to be a hero.
The film explores the lives of Mark Bingham, one of the passengers of United Flight 93 on 9/11, and his mother, Alice Hoagland, a former United Airlines flight attendant.
THE RUGBY PLAYER is an intimate portrait of how a son’s heroism can inspire a nation, and how a mother’s love can turn profound loss into unshakable resolve. Utilizing footage shot by Bingham himself, this timely film provides keen insights for the national debates on LGBT rights, marriage equality and gay athletes in sports.