·
Business & CultureSport & health
·

'Don't Take me Home' inspires Cardiff football fans

The documentary of Wales’s success in last summer’s European football tournament has attracted thousands over the opening weekend, becoming the most popular Welsh movie in years.

The Wales team celebrate their first ever qualification for the European Championships

Don’t Take Me Home is a documentary film which reflects on Wales’s achievement at Euro 2016, last June.
Manager of Cardiff Cineworld, Rhys James, said, “The opening weekend did bring in around 1500 visitors to just our cinema. On the Friday, we completely sold out on two of our screens, which is impressive for an independent film.”
The Welsh team before their semi-final game against Portugal

Despite not reaching a major football tournament since 1958, and being rank outsiders for Euro 2016, Wales stunned a continent by reaching the semi-finals.
The film encapsulates the spirit and pride of the Welsh players and fans throughout Euro 2016. From their lowest point in the World Rankings in 2011, to beating the tournament favourites, Belgium, in the summer.
.embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; }

Owen Davies, editor of Don’t Take Me Home, said, “I think the overriding feeling has been pride. Pride in the player’s achievements, pride in the work we have put into the film, and pride in being Welsh.
“It’s an inspirational underdog story and so it was important that we captured that…The subtext of the film was about providing that inspiration.”
The film paints Welsh football in a very positive light, and could inspire a nation to fall back in love with football.
 

Owen Davies said, “I hope that the immediacy of the film in capturing the success of Euro 2016 will reinforce that message in young people’s minds, and act as an inspiration for them to go out and play football.”
Wales are still looking strong and the Welsh fans fully believe that they will qualify for the World Cup in Russia next year. Depending on how Wales do, Owen and Director Jonny Owens may be teaming up again in 2018.
“I hope so, to get to Russia next year would be amazing. After that who knows what could happen.”