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Saipan

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On the eve of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, the Irish captain Roy Keane forfeits his place in the squad at the team's preparation base in Saipan, following a heated disagreement with the Irish manager Mick McCarthy.

Critics Reviews

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Benjamin Lee Guardian At a game-length 91 minutes, Saipan smartly comes and goes with speed (for all of its anger, it’s also a breezy, funny time) but it’s the rare football movie that’s worth a replay. Rated: 4/5 Sep 8, 2025 Full Review Matthew Creith TheWrap “Saipan” is a reflection of power dynamics at a time when sports superstars represented a country’s standing in the world. Their celebrity egos often get the better of their wild ambitions. Sep 8, 2025 Full Review Donald Clarke Irish Times Supporters of both men – the nation is still divided – will find plenty to agree with and plenty to rail at as the film drifts towards a conclusion that will astonish nobody who was alive at the time. Rated: 3/5 Sep 5, 2025 Full Review Louis Roberts Loud and Clear Reviews For those who remember the infamous incident, it’s hard not to relish in the images and sounds of the time, nor in seeing these familiar faces reinterpreted by such a charismatic duo. Rated: 3/5 Sep 8, 2025 Full Review Evelyn O'Rourke RTÉ (Ireland) [Saipan] sets itself the task of bringing us into the hearts, heads and dreams of two of Irish football’s biggest names and gives them both a fair hearing. Rated: 4/5 Sep 5, 2025 Full Review Joonatan Itkonen Toisto.net This is a smart film that understands sports movies are only as entertaining as the people playing in them. We don't cheer for the ball, but the person kicking it. It's a touching film that helped me understand the passion of this sport a little better. Rated: 4/5 Sep 5, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Cast & Crew

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Lisa Barros D'Sa

Director

Glenn Leyburn

Director

Steve Coogan

Actor

Eanna Hardwicke

Actor

Aoife Hinds

Actor

Harriet Cains

Actor
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Saipan

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Movie Info

Synopsis On the eve of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, the Irish captain Roy Keane forfeits his place in the squad at the team's preparation base in Saipan, following a heated disagreement with the Irish manager Mick McCarthy.
Director
Lisa Barros D'Sa, Glenn Leyburn
Producer
Trevor Birney, Oliver Butler, Macdara Kelleher, John Keville
Screenwriter
Paul Fraser
Production Co
Wild Atlantic Pictures, Finepoint Films
Genre
Biography, Drama, History
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 31m