Sixty Six 2008

In November 1965, in North London, Bernie Reubens (Gregg Sulkin), a young Hebrew boy, eagerly anticipates his bat Mitzvah. He resides with his mother, Esther (Helena Bonham Carter), and his father, Immanuel “Manny” Reubens (Eddie Marsan). Manny, fixated on cleanliness, has draped plastic sheets over every surface in their house, which must be removed whenever guests arrive. Manny’s brother, Jimmy (Peter Serafinowicz), outshines him with his charm and comedic talent, drawing the patrons of Manny’s grocery store in with laughter.

Manny’s charm is primarily rooted in his past as a dancer; he met Esther at a dance hall where they spent an entire night dancing, leading to her devoted commitment to him. However, their son Bernie struggles to find acceptance—he faces bullying at school and even at home from his brother, Alvie (Ben Newton). The family once left him behind after a vacation, underlining their neglect.

Bernie has ambitious designs for his bat Mitzvah, seeking to outdo Alvie’s celebration. His meticulous planning includes an extraordinary reception, complete with a sophisticated seating arrangement, a heartfelt acceptance speech, gifts, joyful dances, and a guest list for 250 people. He even reaches out to Frankie Vaughan to perform at the Henshaw hotel, envisioning custom cocktails and a lavish dinner.

However, their financial situation sees a steep decline when a new supermarket opens next door and undercuts their prices. Manny, unwavering, refuses to sell his grocery store, relying on the loyalty of their customers, but they soon make a quick switch to the supermarket’s better deals.

Bernie’s life takes a further downturn as he is diagnosed with asthma, requiring treatment from Dr. Barrie (Stephen Rea). On a day when Manny was supposed to support Bernie at his bat Mitzvah class, he was distracted by the competition, which further humiliates Bernie.

Faced with mounting pressures, Manny and Esther reluctantly advise Bernie to tone down his extravagant plans. They suggest hiring a smaller room for the event, insinuating that a more intimate setting would let him shine as the guest of honor. Interestingly, Bernie learns that the date of his bat Mitzvah coincides with the World Cup final, and he clings to the hope that England won’t make it through.

As tensions escalate, Manny contemplates a drastic decision to sell the grocery store and invest in a shoe shop instead. With initial success, England scores a draw in their opening match against Uruguay. Yet, when the supermarket asks for tax documents to finalize the sale, Manny is cornered—he has never fully declared his income, jeopardizing the sale.

Their hopes are dashed further as the bat Mitzvah is relocated to a community center, where Jimmy unexpectedly acquires the shoe shop, forcing Manny into employment under him. England’s unexpected win against Mexico keeps the family’s spirits alive.

One day, while visiting Dr. Barrie, Bernie finds himself hiding in the doctor’s cupboard and unintentionally witnesses infidelity unfold in the home. Meanwhile, progressing through their dinner with Jimmy, the excitement around England’s match victory over France drives celebration, which turns tragic when a stray rocket ignites Manny’s home, consuming all of his cash savings—money he had saved meticulously to avoid taxes. This devastates Manny, and in his rage, he unjustly accuses Esther of cheating with Jimmy, though he later regrets the conflation.

As England miraculously beats Portugal to reach the finals, Bernie is crushed by the real possibility that many of his guests might forfeit his event to watch the match instead. With various attendees bowing out and the caterer canceling last-minute, Aunt Lila (Catherine Tate) has to step up and bake a less-than-stellar cake.

Manny grapples with feelings of defeat as he writes a resignation letter to Jimmy, only to discover Jimmy injured while putting a sign on his new store. In a moment of profound realization, Manny decides to stay.

On the day of Bernie’s bat Mitzvah, the turn of events is chaotic: Bernie is missing, stirring panic in Manny and Esther. Eventually, they stumble upon Bernie’s meticulously planned preparations hidden in the basement and revisit the tape of Alvie’s bat Mitzvah, unveiling the root of Bernie’s discontent.

In a climactic turn of fate, Bernie’s father rushes him to Wembley Stadium just in time to witness England’s nail-biting match against West Germany. As the game intensifies, with West Germany scoring late to equalize, the resilience of the English team shines through as they secure victory with two goals, ending the game triumphantly at 4-2. This shared emotional journey culminates not only in a celebrated match but also in the restored connection between Bernie and his family.