Any football fan will tell you that the beautiful game isn't a matter of life or death - it's far more important than that.  | | Does God Play Football?, a short film set in the 1960s, was filmed in Wentworth village. |
Spirituality and soccer come together in the story of a seven-year-old Sheffield United fan, which premieres at the Showcomotion Children's Film Festival. Does God Play Football was filmed in Wentworth, a South Yorkshire village set in the countryside between Rotherham and Barnsley. Tommy, played by Michael De Burca, is growing up without a father in the mid 1960s, which makes him very much an alien in village life. "It's about how he fills in the emotional gaps in his life," explains writer and director Mike Walker. "God is dad for him. But football is like an alternative religion."  | | Tommy and the priest in the countryside near Wentworth. |
The ten minute film explores spirituality through a child's eyes and blurs the line between fantasy and reality. Tommy prays for a father and a real dad is delivered, in the shape of a local Catholic priest, played by Kevin McKidd. The idea for the film came to Walker when he witnessed a child's reaction to a religious building. "I was visiting a church and I saw this kid with wonder in his eyes." said Walker. Wentworth was chosen because the director wanted to reflect the contrast of a large town on the edge of countryside - Sheffield and South Yorkshire fitted the bill.  | | Heavens above: Tommy wears a 1960s style Blades kit. |
Young Blades in the audience may find themselves in football heaven - their young hero is kitted out in a period Sheffield United strip, recreated with the help of the club's museum. But there is a rather prosaic reason for the choice of Tommy's beloved football club. "It's got a good colour stripe," explains Walker "red, white and green work well visually." Does God Play Football? Showing at the Showcomotion Opening Night Gala on Friday 4 July at the Showroom Cinema, Sheffield. You can nominate your favourite spiritual place between 6 July and 16 July 2003 by on the BBC Sunday website. | 
