Entertainment

Film: The Keeper tells true story of Bert Trautmann, A Clockwork Orange re-released

David Cross as Bert Trautmann in Belfast-filmed movie The Keeper
David Cross as Bert Trautmann in Belfast-filmed movie The Keeper David Cross as Bert Trautmann in Belfast-filmed movie The Keeper

THE KEEPER (15, 119 mins) Drama/Sport. David Kross, Freya Mavor, John Henshaw. Director: Marcus H. Rosenmüller

FILMED on location in Belfast, Marcus H Rosenmuller directs The Keeper, based on a rousing true story that changed the course of footballing history.

Bernhard 'Bert' Trautmann (David Kross) is captured by British forces during the Second World War and becomes a prisoner of war in a camp run by Sergeant Smythe (Harry Melling).

During a penalty-scoring challenge, Trautmann's talents as a goalkeeper pique the interest of Jack Friar (John Henshaw), who manages a struggling local football club.

He makes a deal with Sergeant Smythe to enlist Trautmann as the club's new goalkeeper to help push for league glory.

At first, captain Bill Twist (Michael Socha) and team-mates are reluctant to welcome a German into their ranks, but Trautmann's supreme athletic ability inspires unity.

Trautmann also wins over Friar's spirited daughter Margaret (Freya Mavor), who develops romantic feelings for the prisoner.

Thanks to Trautmann, the club pulls off a stunning victory on the football field and a scout for Manchester City approaches the prisoner.

His appointment to the side – with which he won an FA cup medal in 1956, famously carrying on in the final despite suffering a broken neck – catalyses outrage among fans, and local rabbi Alexander Altmann (Butz Ulrich Buse) calls into question the morality of City's president (Julian Sands) for fielding a German player.

Released: April 5 (UK & Ireland, selected cinemas)

MISSING LINK (PG, 95 mins). Animation/Adventure/Family. Zoe Saldana, Timothy Olyphant, Hugh Jackman, David Walliams. Director: Chris Butler

THE fifth feature from Oregon-based stop-motion animation studio Laika – makers of Kubo And The Two Strings – promotes acceptance and understanding in a world where mankind destroys the things it does not understand.

Sir Lionel Frost (Hugh Jackman) and his trusty assistant Mr Lint (David Walliams) have a close encounter with the Loch Ness Monster in the hope of securing evidence of the creature's existence so Frost can gain admission to The Optimates Club.

Unfortunately, the expedition ends in disaster. The gung-ho gentleman's resolve is stiffened by a mysterious letter, which beckons him to the west coast of America to learn the truth about the fabled Saskwatch.

Frost follows directions and encounters a talking creature called Mr Link (Zach Galifianakis), who is desperate to travel to the Himalayas to be united with the last of his kind, the yetis.

A feisty old acquaintance called Adelina Fortnight (Zoe Saldana) joins Frost and Mr Link on an intrepid expedition but their movements are closely monitored by a gun-toting assassin called Stenk (Timothy Olyphant).

Released: April 5 (UK & Ireland)