Harvard Beats Yale 29-29 (US, 2008)

You don’t have to be a football enthusiast to enjoy Kevin Rafferty’s (The Atomic Cafe) terrifically entertaining documentary about the storied gridiron match-up between Harvard and Yale on November 23, 1968 that ended in a 29-29 tie after underdog Harvard scored 16 points during the game’s final 42 seconds. Interspersed with archival footage of the game are disarmingly candid, frequently hilarious interviews with many of the former players, including Crimson alumnus Tommy Lee Jones. By contextualizing the game within the political maelstrom that was 1968 — the two teams included SDS as well as ROTC members — Rafferty makes this more than just an amusing footnote in the annals of college sports history. As a time capsule of a recent period in American history, Harvard Beats Yale is both inspiring and profoundly moving. At the Cleveland Museum of Art. At 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, and 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8.