Watch Forbidden Games: The Justin Fashanu Story

Forbidden Games: The Justin Fashanu Story is an emotional and insightful documentary film that highlights the life and struggles of Justin Fashanu, the first prominent footballer to come out as gay in the 1990s. The movie shows the incredible journey of Justin from his humble beginnings to becoming a soccer star in the UK. The film explores the challenges he faced as a young, talented, and gay player thrust into the limelight, facing racism and homophobia in the sport he loved. Justin's story is told through interviews with family members, friends, and former teammates, as well as archive footage of Justin and his brother John, who was also a famous footballer.

We are taken through a series of events that shaped Justin’s life, including his early days growing up in London, his dreams of becoming a professional footballer, his triumph in the sport, and his ultimate downfall as a result of his sexuality. Fashanu's story does not just focus on his achievements, but also his struggles with self-esteem, his relationship with his brother John, and his turbulent love life.

The film portrays a young Justin as a shy and unassuming boy, but as he becomes more independent and ambitious, he faces harsh realities. The story follows Justin as he moves from London to Norwich, where he signs a professional contract with Norwich City F.C. and becomes the first black player to command a £1 million transfer fee. The documentary shows flashbacks to his playing career, which provides us with a real insight into his talent on the field.

The movie then sheds light on Justin’s private life, revealing the inner turmoil he experienced as a gay man in a predominantly heterosexual football world. The film charts his decision to come out to the press, which turned out to be both a brave and risky move in a sport that was (and still is, to some degree) riddled with homophobic attitudes. The reaction was overwhelmingly negative and harsh, and Justin became an outcast. The documentary asks the question of whether times have really changed regarding the treatment of gay footballers.

Furthermore, the documentary highlights Justin's final years, in which he was forced to leave England and move to the United States, where he faced accusations of sexual assault. The film presents interviews with key players and witnesses and expresses the conflicting views of those who knew Justin best.

Overall, Forbidden Games: The Justin Fashanu Story provides us with a unique insight into the life of Justin Fashanu, a courageous athlete whose story deserves to be heard. It is a poignant and emotional story that reveals the struggles and challenges of coming out in a world that is, even today, far from accepting of those who are different. The film ultimately explores how we can create a more inclusive and compassionate society, one in which every individual, regardless of sexuality or race, is accepted and celebrated.

Forbidden Games: The Justin Fashanu Story is a 2017 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 20 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6.