By Ishan Athawle
Leeds United – a club built on its passion, unwavering support from the ultras, and a heritage that would put 99% of other clubs to shame. Encapsulating their truest emotions is a task as tough as world peace. But if there were Nobels being thrown about for such a task, director and writer Lee Dickens deserves his own for doing just that.
Made to document their fight back to the elusive Premier League, Take Us Home: Leeds United is a two-season show available on Amazon Prime and Apple TV as an ode to one of their most exciting times in recent history. Narrated by longtime supporter and actor Russell Crowe, the documentary was made almost as if it was designed to make the Peacocks your favourite club outside your favourite club.
Call it a stroke of luck or genius, but the timing did it all for Hickens. Kicking off Season 1 with the reign of new owner, Italian businessman Andrea Radrizzani, showed that the documentary was always destined for greatness. That added with the hiring of legendary head coach, Argentine Marcelo Bielsa, set it up for a box office masterclass.
And he didn’t disappoint anyone – new tactics that squeezed every ounce of energy from the players, a high-pressing attacking football style, and off-court shenanigans like the infamous Spygate and the failed Daniel James transfer just put the cherry on top for all neutrals looking for a good watch after a tough day at work.
Sure, they didn’t make it to the Prem despite a breath of fresh air from Bielsa and his antics off the court. Rival chants of “Leeds are falling apart, again…” almost felt manifested into the ongoings of the season. But the pure animation and emotions from the first season would’ve etched Leeds United into your hearts, never to leave again. That set up the success of the second season perfectly – as they didn’t fall apart again and made it to the grand stages of the Premier League for the first time in 16 years.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut the smartest move from director Lee Dickens wasn’t to capture the first-hand experiences of the players. It was to do the same, but for the die-hard, long-time supporters of the club. And that tactic worked to a tee – because doing that not only made you feel like one of them, but it also almost made you see yourself on the screen, putting blood, sweat, and tears into the 23-man squad that decides your mood for the rest of the week.
Don’t get it mistaken – Take Us Home: Leeds United wasn’t just your average sports documentary. Director and writer Lee Dickens made it for you to find a soft spot for that tiny part of Yorkshire, and feel elated when the Whites eventually did make it home, which is the English Premier League.