Now released for the first time on DVD, Ultra is a study of fanaticism and loyalty within a group of hardcore Italian football supporters in 1990.

Recently released from prison, Prince is the popular leader of the ‘Poison Brigade’; hardcore AS Roma football supporters whose sole aim in life seem to be the annihilation of their rivals. This they embrace as though a God-given right, a natural and correct process that should not be questioned. The beautiful game becomes incidental to the ugly drama being enacted on the peripheries.

While he was inside, Prince’s friend and fellow brigade member Red was getting it on with Cinzia, Prince’s girlfriend. Red now plans to spend the rest of his life with her; he just has to break the news to Prince. Party to this love triangle is Cinzia’s 11 year old brother Fabio; the Poison Brigade’s youngest recruit.

The film centres around their train journey to Turin for an almighty face-off with the ‘Droogs’; rival Juventus supporters. During the journey loyalties are tested, testosterone whizzes around and no-one is safe from a bit of aggro. Meanwhile Red (Ricky Memphis) braces himself to come clean to Prince. Will the brotherhood bonds hold strong or will he be shown the red card?

After a long train journey to Turin - for all of us - the brigade disembark chanting ‘we’re here, we’re there, we’re Roma, we’re the hardcore’ which, apart from lacking any noticeable rhyme, attracts disgusted head-shakes from other train passengers. But the brigade can lay claim to one thing that is unique; they are bound to each other by codes of loyalty; by a need to belong and to stand for something. For some this violent camaraderie is the only sense of belonging they will experience, and this perhaps is one of the saddest indictments of modern society.

A sense of realism pervades each scene, from the brigade’s spirited chants to the bleak high-rise lined background. A bit too heavy on the realism and light on the entertainment, Ultra gives us an insight into football fanaticism Italian-style, with the odd reference to the Roman Empire thrown in for good measure.

Directed by Ricky Tognazzi (of La Scorta), Ultra was joint winner of the Silver Bear award at the 1991 Berlin film festival, where it tied with Silence of the Lambs. It is still relevant today but it looks a bit dated, and this is not helped by the melancholic soundtrack.

Released on DVD 20th April 2009.