'Forever Pure' tells a depressing story: an Israeli football club, famous for its racist supporters, signs two Muslim players; and the fans boycott the team. Eventually, those associated with the signing move on; and the player who most identifies with the fans' cause becomes the new captain. Ultimately, football is a business; without other incentives, you can't make money by upsetting your customers. The undertone here, of course, is that in polarised Israeli society, the notion of ethnic purity might have an appeal that stretches far beyond the terraces. As a documentary, there's nothing extraordinary about this film; its power comes in the sad but clear view of reality it presents.
5 Reviews
Power to the (wrong) people
kosmasp8 February 2018
Fans can hold power over the future of a club they support. And that isn't necessarily a bad thing. They do pay a lot and they do put a lot of heart and passion into that past time. But in this special case, we got a really bad example of the wrong people having a say. The ones that are racist that is. And all gets captured in this documentary.
Now whatever made this possible (luck, fate, foresight of the guy documenting the football club?), it is really devastating to watch. Obviously you can't paint every fan with one brush, but the hardcore fan base seems to have gone the way those went that hate jews. The amount of racism is horrible and if you are a positive person you may have problems watching something like this. There may also be moments you lose faith in humanity ... It's crazy ... because it's real
Now whatever made this possible (luck, fate, foresight of the guy documenting the football club?), it is really devastating to watch. Obviously you can't paint every fan with one brush, but the hardcore fan base seems to have gone the way those went that hate jews. The amount of racism is horrible and if you are a positive person you may have problems watching something like this. There may also be moments you lose faith in humanity ... It's crazy ... because it's real
The dark side of football
blumdeluxe13 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
"Forever Pure" tells the story of ultra-nationalist fans of Israeli soccer club Beitar Jerusalem over the course of one season as they struggle both with their own club and players and arabic teams.
The documentary sheds light on an important issue and quite brilliantly shows the pathos surrounding the club and how certain people can make profit of it. However, the film almost feels a bit improvised at times, trying to ban a whole season onto tape. At the same time this try to stay in the presence somehow prevents a wider picture and creates kind of a hybrid. Personally, I think I would have prefered to let go of this particular season and try to present the general role of Beitar fans over the course of time as well as some oppositional voices. Nonetheless, this is a depressing and impressive documentary and one that raises questions for the Israeli society and international viewers.
All in all it is good that this movie exists because it displays that there are serious problems in Israeli soccer, as there are elsewhere, that need to be adressed and that soccer is always more than just sports.
The documentary sheds light on an important issue and quite brilliantly shows the pathos surrounding the club and how certain people can make profit of it. However, the film almost feels a bit improvised at times, trying to ban a whole season onto tape. At the same time this try to stay in the presence somehow prevents a wider picture and creates kind of a hybrid. Personally, I think I would have prefered to let go of this particular season and try to present the general role of Beitar fans over the course of time as well as some oppositional voices. Nonetheless, this is a depressing and impressive documentary and one that raises questions for the Israeli society and international viewers.
All in all it is good that this movie exists because it displays that there are serious problems in Israeli soccer, as there are elsewhere, that need to be adressed and that soccer is always more than just sports.
"Beitar forever pure. Without arabs" is a good headline
saldiviape16 January 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Such as the former owner of the Beitar Jerusalem Football Club (Arcadi Gaydamak) did, this documentary exposes this society's true face.
An Israeli Jewish society where every Arab is an enemy. Even if the Arab is Israeli.
An Israeli Jewish society where every Muslim is an enemy. Even if the Muslim plays for your soccer team.
An Israeli Jewish society where every Arab is an enemy. Even if the Arab is Israeli.
An Israeli Jewish society where every Muslim is an enemy. Even if the Muslim plays for your soccer team.
Story Within the Story
caramia200214 February 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Surprised at the low-ish rating of this film. I think it told this story very well and didn't shrink from the difficult turn of events or opinions. You don't often see things like this about Israel in the US, precisely for the ironic and reverse reasons that are presented in this film. Interesting. Kudos to NF for airing it. The main message, to me, was that, in the end, it doesn't matter who is the terrorist or who did what (lot of tit for tat going on), what matters is you and me, here and now and the 99.9% of us who just want to live our lives or play our games. When we divide into factions, the end result is always war. Soccer fans have a long history of violence and gang behavior. This is what happens when it is allowed to continue unchecked.
I think if Hitler himself stood in solidarity with L.F., he would have been celebrated and possibly been elected to office. These punks (overwhelmingly male) must be completely uneducated, and about their own history, less than 100yrs ago. The very reason Israel was founded. The recent years have shown that it's no longer a mystery how and why the Nazi party came to power.
I have rarely felt so many emotions during a film. But the last emotion was sadness, profound sadness, for the human race. For the Jews, for the Arabs, for the guys not even Arabs (the Chechen players), for us all. My reaction to the fans leaving was, "Let the losers be with the losers.", but eventually that damages the whole society. This film shows all the idiots and silent supporters at their worst. The politicians, the press, and yes, even the non-racist fans (where were *they*, although no one wants to run toward violence and terrorism, granted).
But I hope people watch it, for it's an unusual look at how hate grows, in the last place you thought it would.
I think if Hitler himself stood in solidarity with L.F., he would have been celebrated and possibly been elected to office. These punks (overwhelmingly male) must be completely uneducated, and about their own history, less than 100yrs ago. The very reason Israel was founded. The recent years have shown that it's no longer a mystery how and why the Nazi party came to power.
I have rarely felt so many emotions during a film. But the last emotion was sadness, profound sadness, for the human race. For the Jews, for the Arabs, for the guys not even Arabs (the Chechen players), for us all. My reaction to the fans leaving was, "Let the losers be with the losers.", but eventually that damages the whole society. This film shows all the idiots and silent supporters at their worst. The politicians, the press, and yes, even the non-racist fans (where were *they*, although no one wants to run toward violence and terrorism, granted).
But I hope people watch it, for it's an unusual look at how hate grows, in the last place you thought it would.
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