Visions du Réel 2025: Second Dispatch

Some more reviews from the 56th edition of Visions du Réel.

The in-person component of Visions du Réel is over (more on that in a later piece), but the festival is still in progress for Swiss residents who can access part of the program online (an option that is also available, for a longer period of time, for accredited journalists and film professionals). Here’s another batch of capsule reviews, including some of the winners. All the films covered in this dispatch were viewed via screener or through the festival’s digital Media Library.

Ultras (Grand Angle)

What lies behind the worldwide phenomenon of the so-called Ultras, the most passionate fans of specific soccer teams, individuals whose reputation is, shall we say, spotty at best? Swedish documentarian Ragnhild Ekner travels from country to country to unveil the human side of a culture that is generally associated with hooliganism and extreme violence. The film might work slightly better for those already interested in the sport, but as a soccer agnostic I still found myself intrigued by the stories shared by people whose love for the game spans the entire globe.

***1/2