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Highly Recommended: A Film about Over 80s Playing Ping Pong (stick with me)

07.18.2012 by She Loves London // Leave a Comment

I’d never been to the ICA before Monday. It’s on the Mall, home to el Queenie’s gaff, and on this particular Monday night, the entire population of the Territorial Army – berets and all – all doing squats and lunges in preparation for the Olympics.

Ok, there were no squats and lunges. But there were berets, and the rest was in my mind.

Point is, I went to the ICA because at the moment they’re showing a film called Ping Pong, which is a documentary about eight competitors taking part in the over 80s World Table Tennis Championships held in Inner Mongolia.

Les D'Arcy, World Over 80s Ping Pong Champion
Image credit: Ping Pong, Dir. Hugh Hartford, UK 2012

Before you click away on the basis of that description and the fact that I am, in all probability, a Girl of Dubious Interests who is Not To Be Trusted, let me give you this succinct review:

It is brilliant.

Heartwarming, funny and everything that octogenarians should be, given a table tennis bat and half a chance; this film is a lovely insight into a world most of us will have no idea even existed, and one we do – but largely ignore anyway – that of the older generation. Which surely is the mark of any good documentary.

Intrigued? Here’s the trailer.

As for the ICA itself, the screening room we watched in (there are two) is small and intimate, and most importantly, there’s a bar and a menu for food should you need fuel before the film.

Ping Pong is being shown until Sunday 22nd July, which means you have three days left to see it there. Or else, check the film’s website for more screenings around London and the UK after that.

So if you’re looking for something to fill 76 minutes of time this weekend, this is the answer.

And you’re welcome.

 

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