L’arbitro is such a highly ambitious film, dripping with satire, exceptional cinematography and humanity. Can’t remember the last time I felt that exhilarated in front of the TV. It graciously spins two plot lines, one following an overpraised referee’s (nicknamed The Prince) fall from grace towards the last football league in rural Sardinia, where the second storyline opposes two rival teams from two rival villages. The “good villagers” are led in battle by a curly haired Spanish-speaking, moustache wearing fellow called nothing less than MATZUTZI, the embodiment of all things Mediterranean. All eyes on Paolo Zucca!