The Beautiful Game

The Homeless World Cup is a fierce but friendly football tournament that draws eager players from around the world, many of whom have experienced homelessness and disadvantage. It’s the kind of competition that inspires a great story – and now it has! The Beautiful Game is a new Netflix film that celebrates this life-affirming event. We got a peek behind the scenes on the film’s London set, where star Bill Nighy tells us how sport – like art – has the power to change people’s lives.

“I try to do things that, however indirectly, might be of use in the world,” says Nighy in our cover story. “But to have a project like this, which is proper entertainment but also makes people aware of a fabulous project…is a perfect combination.”

More highlights in this edition:

• Meet the good sports at On My Feet in Perth, the Brisbane Paralympic Football Program and The Big Issue’s own Community Street Soccer Program, who are making sure that sport is accessible to all.
• In a generous Letter to My Younger Self, guitarist and songwriter Jim Moginie opens up about fame, family and finding brotherhood in Midnight Oil.
• The dolly doctor will see you now: photographer George Chan visits Brisbane’s Doll & Teddy Hospital in The Big Picture.
• Actor John Malkovich gets philosophical on fashion’s capacity to spark cultural change, as per his role in haute couture drama The New Look.
• Author Myfanwy Jones digs deep into family history and toxic masculinity for her third novel, Cool Water.
• And Simple Home Edit’s Nicole Maguire dishes up Chicken Paprikash. Delish!