A new soccer movie called “Damned United” lasted only a week at the Rialto here in Santa Rose, but I thought it was a darn good movie. And I’m not even a soccer fan.

But that’s just it. You don’t have to be a soccer fan to like it. Because like all truly great sports films, it transcends a particular sport and speaks truths about bigger things. In this case, it speaks about ego and ambition.

“Damned United,” fictionalized but based on the true story of Brian Clouth’s 44 days of spectacular self-destructive failure as manager of Leeds United — in 1974 one of Britain’s premier clubs.

Clouth is played sort of like a British combination of Bobby Knight and Woody Hayes — full of iron will and bombast. The backstory of Clouth makes his failure at Leeds all the more interesting. He was successful before he got to Leeds, and went on to legendary accomplishments after he left Leeds. But the movie seems to be saying that even the most successful of men, especially in highly ambitious, highly competitive careers, are susceptible to demons.

“The Damned United” is a fine film, and an intriguing bit of British soccer history. I recommend at least seeing