The forthcoming movie “Saipan” has become a hit in its native Ireland, captivating audiences with its portrayal of the infamous World Cup row between former Ireland manager Mick McCarthy and his star player, Roy Keane. Screenwriter Paul Fraser explains how he aimed to move beyond the sporting narrative and delve into the human drama at the heart of this explosive clash.
The best moment of football action in “Saipan” doesn’t actually take place on the pitch. Instead, it’s a scene of Keane, played by Éanna Hardwicke, practicing alone on a dilapidated tennis court. As a ball is fired his way, the sullen, spartan athlete tracks it with his eyes, opens up his right foot, and effortlessly kills the ball dead. It’s a moment that confirms Keane’s sporting pedigree, but the film is ultimately not about football – it’s about masculinity, ego, and the turbulent era of the Celtic Tiger in Irish history.
“Ninety minutes is what we get in a game, give or take. Films are also 90 minutes. And the experience of the two things are fundamentally different,” says Fraser. He explains that the raw emotion and intensity of a live football match often fails to translate effectively to the cinema screen. “The emotion that you get from going to a game which is insane, it’s insane. You know, sometimes I think I’m going to have a heart attack or whatever. And I guess that just doesn’t really transfer over too well.”
Rather than attempting to recreate the on-field drama, Fraser chose to focus on the personal dynamics between Keane and McCarthy, two working-class men thrust into the global spotlight. “They’re both from a working-class background but they’re living their lives on a global stage and under a global spotlight. That I found really interesting,” he says.
The decision to avoid direct engagement with the players involved has drawn some criticism, with one scathing review in the Irish Times lamenting that “Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.” However, Fraser stands by his approach, explaining that he wanted to write a film that would speak to audiences beyond just football fans.
“I didn’t speak to any player or any actual person who was there, so it’s a story. It’s a made-up story,” he says. “What did Mark Twain say? Don’t let truth get in the way of a good story. If I was doing a project where I was talking to them and working with them, then that creates a different story and a different process.”
As the film opens in the UK, audiences will have the chance to see this compelling human drama unfold, with Hardwicke and Steve Coogan delivering powerful performances as Keane and McCarthy, respectively. While the details may not be entirely accurate, “Saipan” promises to offer a captivating exploration of the egos and tensions that can arise even in the world’s most popular sport.
