Culture Interviews Cinema & Tv

“If it can inspire one trans person to be themselves and do something they love, I think that’s positive”: Lucy Clark on In the Middle

“If it can inspire one trans person to be themselves and do something they love, I think that’s positive”: Lucy Clark on In the Middle

In the Middle is the new documentary that puts the unsung heroes of football – the referees – centre-stage. In particular, it zeroes in on the individuals working at grassroots level, without whom many leagues wouldn’t be able to function, and yet who face little to no pay and a lot of on-pitch abuse. Director and producer Greg Cruttwell broadens his view beyond the game to also see who they are in their everyday lives, interviewing them about their passion for football from their kitchens or as they go about their daily chores. The result (which won the film Best Screenplay Award at the 2022 Paladino d’Oro Sports Film Festival in Palermo) makes for a charming, candid and insightful look at a cross-section of British society.

The Upcoming spoke to one of the film’s subjects, Lucy Clark, about being the first transgender referee, why she wanted to participate in the documentary, and how inclusivity in the sport is changing – but mainly in the women’s game, whereas the men’s lags behind. We also discussed the lack of adequate action taken over the Qatar controversy, how LGBTQIA+ rights and acceptance can seem to be going backwards in the UK, and hopes that the documentary and representation can empower others to be who they are.

Sarah Bradbury

In the Middle is released in cinemas on 31st March 2023 and digitally on demand on 1st May 2023. Read our review here.

Watch the trailer for In the Middle here:

More in Cinema & Tv

Havoc

Mae Trumata

Until Dawn

Mae Trumata

The Friend

Christina Yang

“These are really crazy circumstances and we wanted to make sure that the audience felt bought in”: Michael Cimino and Ella Rubin on Until Dawn

Mae Trumata

Netflix sets global premiere date for crime drama Dept Q, starring Matthew Goode and written by Scott Frank

The editorial unit

I Know What You Did Last Summer returns to UK cinemas with original stars and new cast this July

The editorial unit

Swimming Home

Antonia Georgiou

Cannes Film Festival unveils dual poster honouring A Man and a Woman for 78th Edition

The editorial unit

“It was definitely next level”: Ben Affleck and cast on The Accountant 2

Christina Yang