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IMDbPro

Playing Away

  • 19871987
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
169
YOUR RATING
Playing Away (1987)
Comedy
To mark the conclusion of their "Third World Week" celebration, a cricket team in a small English village invites a black cricket team from South London to a charity game with comical result... Read allTo mark the conclusion of their "Third World Week" celebration, a cricket team in a small English village invites a black cricket team from South London to a charity game with comical results.To mark the conclusion of their "Third World Week" celebration, a cricket team in a small English village invites a black cricket team from South London to a charity game with comical results.
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
169
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Horace Ové
  • Writer
    • Caryl Phillips
  • Stars
    • Norman Beaton
    • Robert Urquhart
    • Helen Lindsay
  • Director
    • Horace Ové
  • Writer
    • Caryl Phillips
  • Stars
    • Norman Beaton
    • Robert Urquhart
    • Helen Lindsay
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 2User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos7

    Playing Away (1987)
    Playing Away (1987)
    Playing Away (1987)
    Playing Away (1987)
    Playing Away (1987)
    Playing Away (1987)

    Top cast

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    Norman Beaton
    • Willie Boy
    Robert Urquhart
    Robert Urquhart
    • Godfrey
    Helen Lindsay
    Helen Lindsay
    • Marjorie
    Nicholas Farrell
    Nicholas Farrell
    • Derek
    Brian Bovell
    Brian Bovell
    • Stuart
    Gary Beadle
    Gary Beadle
    • Errol
    Suzette Llewellyn
    Suzette Llewellyn
    • Yvette
    Trevor Thomas
    • Jeff
    Stefan Kalipha
    Stefan Kalipha
    • Louis
    Bruce Purchase
    Bruce Purchase
    • Fredrick
    Joseph Marcell
    Joseph Marcell
    • Robbo
    Sheila Ruskin
    • Viv
    Mark Barratt
    • Kevin
    Valerie Buchanan
    • Pat
    Jim Findley
    Jim Findley
    • Boots
    Julian Granger
    • Mick
    Ram John Holder
    Ram John Holder
    • Wilf
    Patrick Holt
    Patrick Holt
    • The Colonel
    • Director
      • Horace Ové
    • Writer
      • Caryl Phillips
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Soundtracks
      It's True
      Written and Performed by Junior

    User reviews2

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    Flawed but interesting
    This is a film about the late 70s made in the late 80s. It is therefore very much of its time and reflects the political mores and attitudes of that period.

    You can form your own judgement as to how far we have progressed since then, but the film is a frank and honest endeavour to raise and poke (some) fun at some of the discrimination and racism of the time. It also comes with a gentle humour all of its own, and has a strong black Brixton cast (including Norman Beaton and suzette llewellyn) who overshadow the slightly bland white midsummer village cast (including Nicholas Farrell).

    Its an interesting idea, but either the screenplay was poor or the editing cut lacked a clear sense of continuous story. There were probably just too many subplots and minor characters that had a backstory but werent given sufficient screen time to be explained, developed or cared about.

    This is not really a cricket or sports film, but nonetheless the game is reflected reasonably accurately in the later game action scenes, certainly more realistically than some other films we could mention.

    Overall i quite enjoyed it despite a slightly downbeat and unresolved ending.

    Also interesting for an early appearance by Neil Morrissey as a racist lout, and Ross Kenp.
    helpful•0
    0
    • marcusw-35-285933
    • Oct 11, 2021

    Details

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    • Release date
      • June 30, 1988 (Australia)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • UK
    • Production companies
      • Insight Productions
      • Channel Four
      • Channel Four Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono

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