Grief and Football short film

‘And my sons there and he's looking at me […] and instead of passing all that hate down I took that fucking love, and I passed it back upwards to my father and my father passed it back to his father and I went back THAT WAY…and that's how we broke the fucking cycle man’ – Loyle Carner

The relationship between masculinity and emotion has always been bittersweet. Traditionally, the notion that it is good for men to talk about their feelings has been frowned upon, emotional expression policed. But more recently, people are challenging the idea that masculinity is synonymous with stoicism and emotional restraint, addressing its negative impacts on men and the people around them. Among other things, being unable to process grief or traumatic events often leads men to send that pain down through generations, becoming more at risk of isolation, alienation, and many other personal issues. But this generation is breaking the cycle. Talking, expressing, communicating, addressing their emotions – the heavy, the light and everything in between.

The jostle between these two very different types of masculinity is at the heart of our student film, Grief and Football. It is a student short that focuses on the relationship between an emotionally stunted father, Shaun, and his troubled son, Ezra, as they work through therapy together. Their journey is captured through brief snapshots of their ten sessions. Exclusively shot from the perspective of Dr Eriksen, the audience becomes their therapist. Inspiration has been taken from films like Beautiful Boy and Good Will Hunting etc.

The set almost acts as a character of its own, as we see it change with the days and seasons throughout the film. Any donations towards this film will go directly towards funding the set design and props to ensure we can create a beautiful and accurate set.

Even if you don’t donate, we appreciate it immensely if you’ve taken the time out of your day to read this and listen to our story. Thank you.

All the love,

The Grief and Football team