Ping Pong

Synopsis

A Sports Movie about Old Age

Pensioners from across the world compete in the World Table Tennis Championships in Inner Mongolia, 2010.

Les D’Arcy (UK) is 89, he’s a 14 times cancer sufferer and 12 times world table tennis champion. He is now the oldest player in his group. Rune Forsberg (Sweden) is 85, he’s 11 times world silver medalist and now as the youngest group player stands a chance of winning gold. Ping Pong follows players from around the world as they make their way to compete in the 2010 World Championships in Inner Mongolia. It gives a unique insight into the remarkable world of veteran athletics but is not just about table tennis. Through intimate and candid portraits back home, Ping Pong is a life affirming adventure into a generation; exploring the hope, passion, prejudice, immediacy and regret of growing old.

About the director

For the past five years Hugh has produced and directed documentaries for UK and international broadcasters through Banyak Films - a company he co-founded with his brother Anson. Broadcasters Banyak have worked with to date include BBC, Channel Four, National Geographic, Teachers TV, Al Jazeera and Sky Arts. Hugh’s last project, Us Now, was first aired as a feature doc on Channel 4’s More4 and has since been broadcast in 9 territories and translated into 27 languages. He regularly makes half hour current affairs documentaries for Al Jazeera English.

According to the filmmakers

I’ve been building on the idea of this film for a long time now and without the advice and support from the Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation team we would never be in production now - they’re brilliant.