Saipan cheghadr asle? Ye dastan vaghei hast?

Yes. The film is based on the true events of May 2002, when Roy Keane left the Irish national squad at their pre-World Cup training base on Saipan, sparking a national controversy that dominated headlines across Ireland and the UK.

Do I need to know football to enjoy Saipan?

No prior football knowledge is required. The film functions primarily as a character drama and institutional conflict story. The sport is the backdrop, but the real subject is pride, loyalty, and the human cost of public confrontation.

Koja bebinam Saipan ba zirnevis farsi?

Saipan is streaming on K-Time with Persian subtitles. Open K-Time on your browser, TV, or phone, log in, and play — no VPN required and no geographic restrictions apply.

What language is Saipan in, and is there a Persian dub?

The film is in English (original audio). A Persian dub is not available, but Persian subtitles are included on K-Time so Farsi-speaking viewers can follow every word comfortably.

Saipan

Name: Saipan
Genre: Biography, Drama, Historical
Released: 2025
Duration: 91 min
Cast: Éanna Hardwicke, Steve Coogan, Alice Lowe, Peter McDonald, Harriet Cains

Director: Glenn Leyburn, Lisa Barros D'Sa

Cast: Éanna Hardwicke, Steve Coogan, Alice Lowe, Peter McDonald, Harriet Cains

Saipan is a 2025 Irish-British biographical drama directed by Glenn Leyburn and Lisa Barros D'Sa, telling the true story surrounding the island of Saipan and its role in one of the most scandalous episodes in Irish football history, a controversy that fractured a nation on the eve of a World Cup.

What is Saipan about?

The film reconstructs the explosive fallout that erupted when star Irish footballer Roy Keane walked out of the national squad's pre-tournament training camp on the remote Pacific island of Saipan just days before the 2002 FIFA World Cup. What began as a conflict over training facilities and preparation standards quickly escalated into an irreparable public rupture between Keane and manager Mick McCarthy, played here with sharp political precision. The film examines the loyalties that split fans, the media frenzy that consumed a country, and the private motivations driving two stubborn, principled men toward an unwinnable confrontation — all without ever setting foot on a pitch.

Cast & crew

Éanna Hardwicke leads the cast in the demanding central role, bringing fierce physicality and interiority to a figure long reduced to tabloid caricature. Steve Coogan portrays manager Mick McCarthy, navigating authority and wounded pride with characteristic dry precision. Alice Lowe, Peter McDonald, Jamie Beamish, and Alex Murphy fill out a strong ensemble that keeps the drama grounded in human stakes rather than sports spectacle.

Context & significance

For Persian-speaking viewers in the diaspora, Saipan resonates as a story about the collision of principle, pride, and belonging — themes that cut across any national boundary. The film's core tension mirrors experiences many Iranian émigrés know well: the question of who speaks for a people, and what it costs to refuse to stay silent. Set against the backdrop of global football, this Irish-British production offers an intimate portrait of institutional conflict that feels universal. The film is available on K-Time with Persian subtitles, making it fully accessible without any language barrier.

Where & how to watch

Saipan is available on K-Time with Persian subtitles. Watch on the web, on your TV, or on your phone — no extra download, no VPN needed, no geo-blocking. Start watching instantly and cancel anytime.