Kenny Dalglish review – Liverpool's everyman football hero who took the city's woes on his shoulders

A biographical portrait of Kenny Dalglish, Liverpool's beloved footballer and manager, is unveiled in a captivating documentary that delves into the turbulent period between 1985 and 1989. This era saw Dalglish take over as player-manager after the Heysel stadium disaster, where 39 lives were lost due to a riot at the European Cup final against Juventus. The subsequent investigation led to further tragedy with the Hillsborough stadium disaster in 1989, claiming 97 Liverpool fans' lives.

Kapadia's film masterfully interweaves archive clips and voiceovers to recount Dalglish's life story, from his childhood in Glasgow to his triumphant career at Celtic before joining Liverpool. The documentary portrays Dalglish as an 'everyman', a down-to-earth figure who shouldered the city's woes, consistently visiting hospitals and attending funerals with his players.

The period between 1985 and 1989 is marked by a tragic series of events that Dalglish navigated with stoic resolve. He famously responded to Kelvin MacKenzie's suggestion that he put things right after Hillsborough with a simple yet powerful headline, "We Lied," which led to his resignation as manager. The film raises questions about the role of government and media in perpetuating tragedy, particularly regarding Margaret Thatcher's handling of the situation.

While Kapadia's documentary primarily focuses on Dalglish's personal struggles during this period, it does touch upon broader themes such as hooliganism, which was largely a response to the contemptuous treatment of working-class supporters. A fascinating historical echo that emerges from the film is the parallel with Princess Diana's death in 1997, where the outpouring of grief at Anfield foreshadowed the nation's collective reaction.

In contrast to some of Kapadia's other subjects, such as Diego Maradona or Amy Winehouse, Dalglish appears straightforward and untroubled. This lack of complexity may be attributed to his down-to-earth nature, which allowed him to navigate the treacherous landscape of football politics with relative ease.

The documentary leaves viewers with a poignant portrayal of Dalglish, an individual who managed to survive and thrive despite being at the centre of some of the darkest moments in English football history.

I think its wild how much attention is given to the 'dark' side of Kenny Dalglish's story . I mean, yeah, the Heysel and Hillsborough disasters are super tragic and all that... but what about the systemic issues that led to those tragedies? Like, the government and media's role in perpetuating a culture of hooliganism and racism . Kapadia touches on it a bit, but I think its time for us to dig deeper into the root causes of these problems. Dalglish might've been an 'everyman' who navigated the city's woes, but what about the broader system that failed those 39 lives at Heysel and 97 at Hillsborough?

Kenny Dalglish's life story is so inspiring ! I mean, taking over as player-manager after Heysel stadium disaster was crazy brave . And that documentary about him is totally worth watching - it's like a masterclass on how to stay humble and focused under pressure . The way Kapadia has woven his life story together with archive clips and voiceovers is pure magic . What I found really interesting was how Dalglish handled the media backlash after Hillsborough, it's like he knew exactly what needed to be said . And that "We Lied" headline? Iconic ! It's also crazy how the documentary draws parallels with Princess Diana's death, that outpouring of grief at Anfield was insane . All in all, Dalglish's story is one of resilience and leadership - we could all learn from him #KennyDalglish #LiverpoolFC #FootballHistory #ResilienceMatters

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this documentary on Kenny Dalglish . I mean, can you believe it's been like 20 years since the Hillsborough disaster? It feels like just yesterday we were all watching it unfold on TV . Anyway, I think what really got me was how down-to-earth Dalglish seems in this doc. Like, he's not some arrogant celebrity figure, but a regular bloke who's been through hell and back ️. And the way Kapadia portrays him as an 'everyman' is spot on. But at the same time, I'm still trying to get my head around how the media and government handled all of this back then . It's wild to think that Dalglish basically lost his job over a headline . And can we talk about what happened with Margaret Thatcher for a sec?

omg i just watched this docu about kenny dalglish and i have to say it was really emotional lol what's up with the heysel stadium disaster though? like how did that even happen? and what's the deal with margaret thatcher's handling of it? seems so inhumane anyway, i loved this docu it was so well made but idk about kenny dalglish seeming kinda untroubled given everything he went through... maybe i just need to watch more about his life

I'm not sure I'd call this documentary a masterpiece, tbh . I mean, it's great that Kapadia is shining a light on Dalglish's life, but does it really add anything new to the conversation? We've heard all about his struggles and triumphs before, and I don't think it's necessarily complex or groundbreaking just because he's down-to-earth . And can we talk about how much attention is given to the government's role in all this? It feels like the film is glossing over some major issues . And what really gets me is how often we're forced to watch a "turbulent" period of history through the lens of one person's perspective. Can't we see it for what it was – a series of tragic events that were, in part, fueled by systemic problems?

The biographical portrait of Kenny Dalglish is a powerful tribute to his resilience & unwavering dedication to his city . It's striking how Kapadia has woven together the intricate threads of Dalglish's life, expertly balancing personal narratives with broader social commentary . I'm particularly intrigued by the parallels drawn between this period & Princess Diana's tragic death - a testament to the enduring power of collective grief . One thing that struck me was how Dalglish's humility & compassion allowed him to navigate football politics with remarkable poise . While some might find his story lacking complexity, I think it's precisely his 'everyman' quality that makes him so relatable & inspiring .

The way they show Kenny Dalglish as just an 'everyman' is so inspiring . Like he was just trying to do his job while dealing with all this crazy stuff .

Imagine having to navigate politics, tragedy, and fan expectations all at once . The film makes it look almost... ordinary . But for him and the players, it must've felt like the world was spinning .

I wish they'd explored more about what went on behind the scenes though . Like how did the government and media really respond to all this? Was there a conspiracy or just a whole lot of incompetence ?

But overall, I think Kapadia did an amazing job at capturing Dalglish's spirit . The film is like a big puzzle with lots of pieces that don't quite fit together ... but in the end, you get this beautiful picture of a man who refused to give up .

I'm still reeling from the emotional impact of this documentary on me . I mean, can you believe the amount of pressure Kenny Dalglish had to deal with as a player-manager? The weight of expectation, the media scrutiny, and the loss of so many lives at Hillsborough... it's just heartbreaking .

And that headline "We Lied" is still giving me chills . It's like he was saying 'enough's enough' to all the lies and manipulation he faced from the media and government. I'm getting goosebumps thinking about Dalglish's character and how he handled it all with such dignity and compassion .

But what really gets me is how this documentary makes you see him in a different light – as an 'everyman' who just happened to be on the biggest stage at the time . It's like we're looking at a normal guy, not some football legend or icon. And that's what I think is so powerful about this film.

I do wish Kapadia had dug deeper into the systemic issues that led to all these tragedies, but I guess you can't fit everything in 90 minutes of a documentary . Still, it's an incredible tribute to Dalglish's life and legacy, and I'm so grateful we get to see his story on the big screen .

I'm totally stoked about this docu on Kenny Dalglish ! It's like, you can't help but feel for the guy, ya know? He was just trying to do his thing on the pitch and off, but life had other plans . I love how Kapadia weaves together all these archive clips and voiceovers, it's like a time capsule . And that headline, "We Lied" , still gives me chills! It's crazy to think about how much Dalglish had to deal with during those tumultuous years . And the parallels with Princess Diana's death? Mind blown ! The film is so well done, it feels like you're right there in Anfield with the fans, feeling all the emotions . Can't wait to see more of Kapadia's work!

I'm loving this doc about Kenny Dalglish ! I mean, can you imagine putting on a brave face after something as horrific as the Heysel disaster? The way he just showed up at hospitals and funerals with his players is like something out of a movie, dude . And that "We Lied" headline? Classy move, Kenny ! You'd think it's a clever plot twist in some thriller, not actual news . But seriously, this doc highlights how tough times can bring people together. I'm just glad no one from the film industry was at Hillsborough that day , or they might've been like "Okay, we need to make a movie about tragedy" !

omg I'm so done with this documentary lol it's like Kenny Dalglish was the ultimate saint who just took everything on his shoulders and made everyone else around him look bad he was basically a superhero or something idk how they didn't make him more of a complex character in the film though i mean, we're getting a watered-down version of this man's life story here

and can we talk about Margaret Thatcher for a sec? she was literally trying to spin the whole Hillsborough tragedy and blame it on these 'hooligans' lol like what even is that? and then they have to go and make the film all about how Dalglish handled it with this stoic resolve, like he's some kind of hero or something

and btw, 39 lives lost at Heysel stadium, 97 fans killed at Hillsborough, Princess Diana dies in a freak car accident... can we please talk about the bigger picture here?