Netflix has recently debuted its new sports drama movie, The Beautiful Game. The movie is directed by Thea Sharrock and stars Bill Nighy and Micheal Ward as coach and troubled footballer, respectively. The plot is thick and engaging, but one can’t help noticing the brilliant soundtrack, too.
The story focuses on Ward’s character, Vinny, a homeless man with a dream of making it as a footballer. He plays for a special football club for the homeless coached by the ageing footballer Mal, portrayed by Nighy. Vinny gets a shot at his dream when his team is entered into the Homeless World Cupin Rome, Italy.
The screenplay was written by Frank Cottrell-Boyce, famed for his previous work on the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony in London and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car.
The project has been bobbing around in Netflix’s files since 2021 and previously had Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, who shared the screen in In Bruges and The Banshees of Inisherin, earmarked for key roles.
The Beautiful Game is a sonic delight thanks to a discerning score conducted by Adem Ilhan. The English composer is best known for his previous work on the Beatles-related movie Yesterday and Dead Man’s Shoes.
Complementing Ihan’s score perfectly are several well-known songs by The Clash, The White Stripes, Paul Simon, Fela Kuti and Aretha Franklin. There are also several less well-known tracks from the likes of Michael Kiwanuka, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, The Halluci Nation and more.
See the full 20-song soundtrack list below.
‘The Beautiful Game’ soundtrack:
- Ezra Collective – ‘Colonial Mentality’
- Fela Kuti – ‘Let’s Start’
- The Clash – ‘The Magnificent 7’
- Kronos Quartet – ‘Vladimir Martynov: The Beatitudes’
- Pino Palladino & Blake Mills – ‘Ekute’
- The Peanuts – ‘Donna Donna’
- Irving Fields Trio – ‘Cha Cha No. 29’
- Chaka Khan – ‘Like Sugar’
- The South African team “Oasis Reach For Your Dreams” – ‘Ulibambe Lingashoni’
- Nino Manfredi, Ornella Vanoni, Bice Valori – ‘Roma Nun Fa’ La Stupida Stasera’
- Dalida – ‘O Sole Mio’
- Steve Reich, Evan Ziporyn – ‘New York Counterpoint’
- Major Lazer, J. Balvin & El Alfa – ‘Que Calor’
- The White Stripes – ‘Seven Nation Army’
- Michael Kiwanuka – ‘Solid Ground’
- The Halluci Nation (ft. Black Lodge) – ‘Electric Pow Wow Drum’
- Aretha Franklin – ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’
- Ladysmith Black Mambazo – ‘Homeless’
- Paul Simon – ‘Homeless’
- Fela Kuti – ‘Let’s Start’
