Asif Kapadia's new documentary paints an absorbing portrait of Kenny Dalglish, the Liverpool legend whose career was overshadowed by the Heysel and Hillsborough disasters. The film uses archive clips and voiceovers to trace Dalglish's journey from his Glasgow childhood and sparkling Celtic career to his arrival at Liverpool, where he replaced Kevin Keegan.
The documentary focuses on the period from 1985 to 1989, from Heysel to Hillsborough. Dalglish became player-manager after the Heysel stadium disaster in 1985, which claimed 39 lives before the European Cup final. The film highlights how Dalglish stoically visited hospitals and attended funerals with his players throughout these tragedies.
Kapadia shows Margaret Thatcher's visit to Hillsborough two days after the disaster, radiating distaste for football. The film also notes the Sun's infamous 'The Truth' headline, which caused its circulation to collapse on Merseyside. When editor Kelvin MacKenzie asked Dalglish how to put things right, Dalglish suggested a new headline: 'We Lied.'
Dalglish quit as manager soon after Hillsborough, worn down by stress, but later returned to management without permanent mental scarring. The documentary contrasts Dalglish's straightforward nature with other Kapadia subjects like Diego Maradona or Amy Winehouse, suggesting his simplicity allowed him to survive.
