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Feature by: Jack Foley
THE director of football violence movie, Green Street, has defended
the content of the film and insisted there is no animosity between
herself and West Ham - the London club at the centre of the film.
Speaking at a London press conference recently, German-born Lexi
Alexander said that she believed West Ham were happy and proud
of the film which, in her opinion, contains a very 'anti-violence
message'.
But critics have been quick to disagree with her, criticising
the film for its rose-tinted view of football hooliganism and
the way in which it seems to glorify the characters at the centre
of it.
West Ham, too, have been quoted by various sources as feeling
let-down by the nature of the film and have even claimed they
would not have co-operated as much had they been more aware of
the content.
The film focuses on the life of an American student, played by
Lord of the Rings' Elijah Wood, who comes to England and gets
seduced by the yob culture surrounding football.
He quickly makes friends with the leader of the Green Street
Elite (played by Charlie Hunnam) and finds himself in the thick
of the fighting between fans - most of which seems to overshadow
the enjoyment gleened from the game of football itself.
Alexander insists she felt compelled to make the film because
of her experience of football violence while growing up in Germany,
when she became a member of a firm for three years.
"It was the one time in my life where I was most affected
by people around me," she explained.
"I just could never forget what these guys were about and
how complex they were.
"When as a film-maker you get a chance to do a feature and
do a personal story, you have to ask yourself what is it that
you want to really talk about."
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Needless to say, the director found
football clubs were reluctant to grant her the access she required
to make the film authentic because of its subject matter - but
eventually persuaded West Ham that her intentions were honest.
"They [West Ham] grilled me, they gave me the third degree,
they were very suspect, they certainly didn't make an easy choice
of letting me shoot there," she insisted.
"But I told them about the film and I told them what the
fundamental message is at the end of the film, which, in my opinion,
is a very anti-violence message.
"I offered them to read the script; and they ended up reading
the ending of the script.
"I promised them that it would be the same ending, which
it is. And they were really happy and really supportive.
"What happened in between was after we got done shooting
and we went into the editing suite, all they could see was not
the finished product but the shots that were out in the papers.
"Certain paparazzi shots involving Elijah. Of course, I
understand that everyone has to write a great story and put the
greatest pictures in the paper, which were usually very violent
and bloody shots, so I think there was a period of time when they
were really concerned about what the end product would be.
"But this has all resolved itself by them coming to see
the movie and realising that I did keep my word. The film is exactly
what I pitched them the film would be and I think they are very
happy and very proud."
Certainly, Alexander remains tremendously proud of the film and
believes she has realised the vision she set out to achieve.
"I think we have a good mixture; that I was able to tell
a good story and keep people involved in it and at the same time
make it as authentic as possible."
Audiences can judge for themselves when the film opens in cinemas
on September 9.
Related stories: Our
verdict on the film
Lexi Alexander - Read
the full interview
Elijah Wood interview
Charlie Hunnam interview
Warren interview
Leo Gregory interview
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