Underplayed Gems

Living with Lions (1999)

Living with Lions poster
Original title
Living With Lions
Directed by
Fred Rees, Duncan Humphreys
Genre
documentary
Country
United Kingdom
Runtime
4h 15m
Rated
PG
Rating
4.8 of 10 from 2 voters
Elsewhere
IMDb
The 3D catalogue: film cases on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalogue in 3D

The film shelves have a room of their own that you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real films from the same catalogue when you tell them what you feel like watching. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this film is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

More films like thisWatch the trailer

or watch the trailer on YouTube

How it feels

This documentary follows the 1997 British Lions rugby tour to South Africa. It focuses on the team's backroom staff and off-field events, including injuries, arguments, and moments of humor.

observationalbehind-the-scenesemotionalcandidtension-filledrawunpolisheddocumentary-style

What happens

Living with Lions is a documentary film that was released on video (and later DVD) that follows the 1997 British Lions tour to South Africa. The film concentrates on the backroom effort, with less attention paid to the on-field rugby. Even when rugby is shown, it is often cut with the reactions of the coaches on the bench and other backroom staff. The documentary balances pain of various injuries to Rob Howley, Will Greenwood and Doddie Weir, the tensions within the camp (Barry Williams fighting with Mark Regan), the humour of John Bentley's visit to the gym and Keith Wood, and finally jubilation after victory in the second Test. It is largely concerned with events up to the end of the second Test, with the third Test being dealt with via a textual epilogue. Due to its success, a follow-up documentary Living With The Lions 2 - The Final Week was produced. Both films are included in the DVD. Wales and Lions player John Taylor was an executive producer on the film. For the 2001 tour to Australia, another documentary was produced. However, the Lions lost that tour, and there were suggestions that it had been censored to edit out the fact that the players (especially Austin Healey) were displeased with the coach, Graham Henry. (from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)

More like this

This page is from Underplayed Gems. Not quite it? You can browse by genre, country and year, or take this one into the 3D catalogue and ask the Catbot for something closer.