Playing the Moldovans at Tennis
Encyclopedia
The film version of Tony Hawks
' best selling book Playing the Moldovans at Tennis was filmed during May, June and July 2010 in Moldova
, London, Belfast
and Israel
. It is due for release in spring 2012.
beating Moldova
4-0 in September 1997, made a wager with his friend, the comedian Arthur Smith
, (Steve in the film) that he could track down all 11 of the Moldovan players and beat them at tennis
.
He attempted the unlikely feat by spending several weeks in Moldova and by also taking in Ireland and Israel, but his journey took many unexpected turns and changed from a lighthearted bet to a serious desire to prove to his host family that it is possible to complete surprising and unexpected tasks and to have a positive outlook on life.
It ends with one of them stripping naked and singing the Moldovan National Anthem
in South London in front of a large crowd of their friends, which, like the rest of the film, is also true.
as Tony,
Steven Frost as Steve,
Morwenna Banks
as Jane,
Angus Deayton
as David,
Laura Solon
as Susan,
The Counterfeit Beatles as The Flying Postmen,
Peter Bailey as Paul,
Gordon Elsmore as George,
Reuven Gershon as John,
Martin Savill as Ringo,
Anatol Durbală as Iulian,
Igor Babiac as Adrian,
Ana Chiriţă as Elena,
Silvia Luca as Dina,
Viorel Cornescu as Grigore,
Ina Surdu as Corina,
Emil Gaju as Vasile Nedelciuc,
Igor Caras as Balazov,
Sandu Grecu as The Green One,
Ion Grosu as Mr Vatamanu,
Petru Oistric as Kiril,
Tim Berrington as Johnny.
Tony also wrote the screenplay and produced the project with a very small multi-national team that included Chris White (editor), Tim Jordan (Gaffer), Canan Kadana (camera operator), Ludovic Lasserre (sound), Neil McIntyre & Tom Fennell (boom), Graham Hunt (sparks), Edward Lidster (production designer UK) and Stephanie Zari (1st AD UK).
The Moldovan crew included Valentina Iusuphodjaev (line producer), Valeriu Mutu (location manager), Victoria Coroban (PA), Vlad Petrea (1st AD)
Vlad Lozovan (production designer) and Elena Porumbescu (wardrobe)
in Moldova. The UK filming was at The Grove Tavern, Wilton Tennis Club and The Irish Centre in Wimbledon with additional scenes filmed in Belfast, Tel Aviv and The Red Sea.
The footballers that Tony had to track down in 1997 were Oleg Şişchin, Denis Romanenko, Ion Testimiţanu, Radu Rebeja, Oleg Fistican, Iurie Miterev, Vitalie Culibaba, Serghei Rogaciov, Serghei Stroenco, Alexandru Curtianu, Serghei Clescenco and Marin Spânu
Ion Testimitanu is now assistant coach to the Moldova national squad and his daughter is one of Moldova's top players
Tony's first film, Round Ireland with a Fridge
opened in UK cinemas in September 2010 and is released on DVD on 8 November 2010.
in Chişinău that was founded and co-supported by Tony Hawks from the proceeds of the sale of the original book.
Tony Hawks
Antony Gordon Hawksworth, better known as Tony Hawks, is a British comedian and author.-Early life:Born in Brighton in 1960, Hawks was educated at Brighton Hove and Sussex Grammar School and Brighton College...
' best selling book Playing the Moldovans at Tennis was filmed during May, June and July 2010 in Moldova
Moldova
Moldova , officially the Republic of Moldova is a landlocked state in Eastern Europe, located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to the North, East and South. It declared itself an independent state with the same boundaries as the preceding Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991, as part...
, London, Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. It is due for release in spring 2012.
Plot
The script sticks very closely to the original story when Tony, as he watched TV coverage of EnglandEngland national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
beating Moldova
Moldova national football team
The Moldova national football team represents Moldova in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Moldova, the governing body for football in Moldova. Moldova's home ground is Zimbru Stadium in Chişinău and their head coach is Gavril Balint...
4-0 in September 1997, made a wager with his friend, the comedian Arthur Smith
Arthur Smith (comedian)
Brian Arthur John Smith is an English alternative comedian and writer. He was born in Bermondsey, South London, brother to Richard Smith...
, (Steve in the film) that he could track down all 11 of the Moldovan players and beat them at tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
.
He attempted the unlikely feat by spending several weeks in Moldova and by also taking in Ireland and Israel, but his journey took many unexpected turns and changed from a lighthearted bet to a serious desire to prove to his host family that it is possible to complete surprising and unexpected tasks and to have a positive outlook on life.
It ends with one of them stripping naked and singing the Moldovan National Anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
in South London in front of a large crowd of their friends, which, like the rest of the film, is also true.
Cast
Tony HawksTony Hawks
Antony Gordon Hawksworth, better known as Tony Hawks, is a British comedian and author.-Early life:Born in Brighton in 1960, Hawks was educated at Brighton Hove and Sussex Grammar School and Brighton College...
as Tony,
Steven Frost as Steve,
Morwenna Banks
Morwenna Banks
Morwenna Banks is a British comedy actress, writer and producer.Banks is perhaps best known in the UK as a cast member of the British Channel 4 comedy series Absolutely, where her best-known character was a schoolgirl who sat on the edge of a desk.She appeared as the Keeper of the Rules in the...
as Jane,
Angus Deayton
Angus Deayton
Gordon Angus Deayton is an English actor, writer, musician, comedian and broadcaster. He is best known for his role as Victor Meldrew's long-suffering neighbour Patrick Trench in the comedy series One Foot in the Grave...
as David,
Laura Solon
Laura Solon
Laura Solon is an English comedian, actor, writer, and winner of the 2005 Perrier Comedy Award, only the second woman to win as a solo performer .-Background:...
as Susan,
The Counterfeit Beatles as The Flying Postmen,
Peter Bailey as Paul,
Gordon Elsmore as George,
Reuven Gershon as John,
Martin Savill as Ringo,
Anatol Durbală as Iulian,
Igor Babiac as Adrian,
Ana Chiriţă as Elena,
Silvia Luca as Dina,
Viorel Cornescu as Grigore,
Ina Surdu as Corina,
Emil Gaju as Vasile Nedelciuc,
Igor Caras as Balazov,
Sandu Grecu as The Green One,
Ion Grosu as Mr Vatamanu,
Petru Oistric as Kiril,
Tim Berrington as Johnny.
Crew
The film was co-directed by Tony Hawks and Mikolaj Jaroszewicz, the Polish cinematographer on the Oscar winning Peter and the WolfTony also wrote the screenplay and produced the project with a very small multi-national team that included Chris White (editor), Tim Jordan (Gaffer), Canan Kadana (camera operator), Ludovic Lasserre (sound), Neil McIntyre & Tom Fennell (boom), Graham Hunt (sparks), Edward Lidster (production designer UK) and Stephanie Zari (1st AD UK).
The Moldovan crew included Valentina Iusuphodjaev (line producer), Valeriu Mutu (location manager), Victoria Coroban (PA), Vlad Petrea (1st AD)
Vlad Lozovan (production designer) and Elena Porumbescu (wardrobe)
Locations
The film was mainly shot in and around ChişinăuChisinau
Chișinău is the capital and largest municipality of Moldova. It is also its main industrial and commercial centre and is located in the middle of the country, on the river Bîc...
in Moldova. The UK filming was at The Grove Tavern, Wilton Tennis Club and The Irish Centre in Wimbledon with additional scenes filmed in Belfast, Tel Aviv and The Red Sea.
Trivia
The book, Playing the Moldovans at Tennis was published by Ebury Press in 2000The footballers that Tony had to track down in 1997 were Oleg Şişchin, Denis Romanenko, Ion Testimiţanu, Radu Rebeja, Oleg Fistican, Iurie Miterev, Vitalie Culibaba, Serghei Rogaciov, Serghei Stroenco, Alexandru Curtianu, Serghei Clescenco and Marin Spânu
Ion Testimitanu is now assistant coach to the Moldova national squad and his daughter is one of Moldova's top players
Tony's first film, Round Ireland with a Fridge
Round Ireland with a Fridge (film)
Round Ireland with a Fridge is a 2010 film released in September 2010 by Fridge D'Or Productions. The film is based on Tony Hawks's internationally best selling book of the same name and was written by and stars Tony....
opened in UK cinemas in September 2010 and is released on DVD on 8 November 2010.
Proceeds
The producer's proceeds will be donated to the Hippocrates CentreHippocrates Centre
The Hippocrates Centre is a day-care medical centre for disabled children that was established in Chişinău, Republic of Moldova, in 2000. It was founded with the support of Tony Hawks, the British writer and comedian, author of the best-seller "Playing the Moldovans at Tennis" and the support of...
in Chişinău that was founded and co-supported by Tony Hawks from the proceeds of the sale of the original book.