World Cup, Season 3, Match 1A: Russia vs Iran vs Croatia vs Burkina Faso

[joachimt]

This is match 1A of the third season of iCM Forum's Film World Cup.

Country	Original Title	English Title	Year	Manager	IMDB	ICM
Russia	Kholodnoe leto pyatdesyat tretego	The Cold Summer of 1953	1988	blocho	link	link
Iran	Gavaznha	The Deer	1974	zhangalan	link	link
Croatia	Ne okreci se sine	My Son Don't Turn Round	1956	Mochard	link	link
Burkina Faso	Buud Yam		1997	hurluberlu	link	link

Screenshots

Kholodnoe leto pyatdesyat tretego


Gavaznha


Ne okreci se sine


Buud Yam

Voting Rules:
- You must watch all 4 films before you vote.
- To vote, rank the 4 films from most favorite to least favorite. (note: you're ranking the individual films, not the countries)

Voting deadline = Jan 28th
Countdown till deadline

The countries that end at 1st and 2nd place proceed to the next round. The ranking of the match will be decided using these rules:
- Ranked by lowest average ranking.
- In case of a tie between two movies, head-to-head determines the winner (how many people thought A>B and how many thought B>A).
- In case there's still a tie after the previous rule or there is a tie between three or four movies, most #1-votes determines the winner.
- Still a tie? Fewest #4-votes determines the winner.
- Still a tie? The match will have a 3 day extension (except when the tie is only between #3 and #4).

Here's a quick summary of how the tournament works

We start with 48 films from 48 countries. Each country has a manager who determines which movie will be watched. In the first round the countries are divided into 12 groups of 4. From each group the countries that end up at #1 and #2 proceed to the next round. In the 2nd round the 24 remaining countries will be divided into 8 groups of 3. The managers pick a new movie. The winner of each group proceeds to the next round. The final 8 countries compete one-on-one in the quarter finals (with a new movie of course) and so on till the final.

iCM-list of all movies in this World Cup

List of all topics related to the World Cup including previous seasons

[joachimt]

And in the light of recent discussions about more activity and more discussion, feel free to discuss the movies. If you talk about the plot, use spoiler-tags where needed. No need to spoiler all discussion,so you can post opinions out in the open. If people don't want to read opinions prior to watching, they just shouldn't open this thread until they've seen all movies.

[toro913]

1. Buud Yam
2. The cold summer of 1953
3. My son don’t turn around
4. The deers

[Mario Gaborović]

1. Buud Yam
2. Ne okreći se sine
3. Gavaznha
4. Kholodnoe leto pyatdesyat tretego

[joachimt]

Mario, will you be counting the scores again this season as a backup? Just the average is enough.

[Mario Gaborović]

Mario, will you be counting the scores again this season as a backup? Just the average is enough.

Yes. But I'm gonna do head-to-head numbers as well.

[Cocoa]

1. Ne okreci se sine 8/10
2. Kholodnoe leto pyatdesyat tretego 7/10
3. Gavaznha 6/10
4. Buud Yam 6/10

Ne okreci se sine: Loved every second of it

Kholodnoe leto pyatdesyat tretego: It took a while for me to become invested into the film (the action and setting helped me like it more than the characters), but good overall.

Gavaznha: The first 20 minutes or so were great. I would have ranked this second if just based off that... but the film quickly goes downhill afterwards and stops being enjoyable.

Buud Yam: ... It felt so bland. There is nothing I can praise about this film. I was so close to rating it 5/10 and I don't remember what stopped me. It also includes a couple of scenes from Wend Kuuni (which I would have ranked second if it was in this match instead of Buud Yam)... idk this film felt lazy and uninspiring.

[Mario Gaborović]

Kholodnoe leto pyatdesyat tretego: It took a while for me to become invested into the film (the action and setting helped me like it more than the characters), but good overall.

It felt bland to me as I've seen lots of harsher criticisms of authoritarian regimes so far; and why so many Eastern European WWII films dilute their story with things completely irrelevant to the main story? Like too much focus on that girl and her skin. There's also nothing of great cinematography, depth-in quality of picture.

[Pretentious Hipster]

1. Buud Yam (1997)
2. فیلم گوزنها [The Deer] (1976)
3. Ne okreći se sine [My Son Don't Turn Round] (1956)
4. Холодное лето пятьдесят третьего... [Cold Summer of 1953] (1987)

[Mochard]

1. Ne okreći se sine (1956) - 8.25/10
2. Gavaznha (1974) - 8/10
3. Kholodnoe leto pyatdesyat tretego (1988) - 7.5/10
4. Buud Yam (1997) - 5/10

This was a three horse race for me. I watched Buud Yam about 5 years ago and although a rewatch may have been in order, I trust my 5 year old rating that it wouldn't have affected my top 3.

It was definitely a close decision but the Croatian entry just edged it for me. Great opening group to kick things off.

[joachimt]

So far Buud Yam only had #1- and #4-votes.

Average ranking
1. Ne okreci se sine: 2 (10-5)
2. Buud Yam: 2.2 (9-6)
3. Gavaznha: 2.8 (6-9)
4. Kholodnoe leto pyatdesyat tretego: 3 (5-10)

[mjf314]

1. Ne okreci se sine
2. Buud Yam
3. Gavaznha
4. Kholodnoe leto pyatdesyat tretego

[joachimt]

1. Ne okreci se sine
2. Buud Yam
3. Gavaznha
4. Kholodnoe leto pyatdesyat tretego

So soon already?
Last season you waited till right before the deadline almost every match.

[Lilarcor]

None of these were home runs but all were decent:

1. Ne okreći se sine (1956) - 7/10
2. Kholodnoe leto pyatdesyat tretego (1988) - 7/10
3. Buud Yam (1997) - 6/10
4. Gavaznha (1974) - 6/10

Ne okreći se sine - interesting and impressive mix of film noir and neorealism.

Kholodnoe leto pyatdesyat tretego - a fairly different "ostern" to others I've seen, but it still works, refreshing.

Buud Yam - Doesn't really become a distinctive film that I can get excited about, but solid filmmaking

Gavaznha - More important than good to me, honestly. Very different compared to most Iranian films I've seen in style and content, but I wasn't fully invested through all of it. It does have its moments however.

[Gershwin]

1. Gavaznha (1974)
2. Kholodnoe leto pyatdesyat tretego (1988)
3. Ne okreci se sine (1956)
4. Buud Yam (1997)

[RBG]

1. Gavaznha (1974)
2. Kholodnoe leto pyatdesyat tretego (1988)
3. Ne okreci se sine (1956)
4. Buud Yam (1997)

likewise for me though i enjoyed them all. i watched buud yam directly after wend kuuni which was much better imo. i don't know that i've seen an 'ostern' before so that was fun

[joachimt]

So far a clear lead for Ne okreci se sine.

1. Ne okreci se sine: 2 (18-9)
2. Gavaznha: 2.556 (13-14)
3. Buud Yam: 2.667 (12-15)
4. Kholodnoe leto pyatdesyat tretego: 2.778 (11-16)

[Mario Gaborović]

Once again a non-official film is winning. Sadly that won't help in getting more votes from National Registry-kindoflists' regular checkers.

[joachimt]

Once again a non-official film is winning. Sadly that won't help in getting more votes from National Registry-kindoflists' regular checkers.

Once again? Did it happen often in the previous seasons? I can't remember. Didn't keep track of it.

[Mario Gaborović]

Once again a non-official film is winning. Sadly that won't help in getting more votes from National Registry-kindoflists' regular checkers.

Once again? Did it happen often in the previous seasons? I can't remember. Didn't keep track of it.

Not too many times actually, but if it stays like this, it would be seventh win in total. Which isn't insignificant.

[hurluberlu]

Once again a non-official film is winning. Sadly that won't help in getting more votes from National Registry-kindoflists' regular checkers.

Once again? Did it happen often in the previous seasons? I can't remember. Didn't keep track of it.

Not too many times actually, but if it stays like this, it would be seventh win in total. Which isn't insignificant.

After two days of voting, it is early to claim victory, dont you think ? Wait for Burkina Faso magic to play out...

[Pretentious Hipster]

Wait for Burkina Faso magic to play out...

Hate to break it to you but usually the film I vote for loses

[Mate_cosido]

1. Kholodnoe leto pyatdesyat tretego (1988)
2. Buud Yam (1997)
3. Ne okreci se sine (1956)
4. Gavaznha (1974)

[joachimt]

First #1 vote for Russia.

[Armoreska]

I wonder how often is it gonna happen that all 4 movies get at least 1 #1 vote
(well besides the manager)

[joachimt]

1. Ne okreci se sine 8/10
2. Gavaznha 7/10
3. Kholodnoe leto pyatdesyat tretego 7/10
4. Buud Yam 6/10

Probably not a surprising #1-vote from me, because you all know I'm a sucker for Eastern European B&W war drama's. The premises is simple, but the way I like them and the story is heartbreaking. Although the kid wasn't a very convincing role, the ending was touching.

It was a close call between Gavaznha and Kholodnoe, but I decided to vote for the one with the most interesting characters. Maybe Kholodnoe would have convinced me more, if I had known more about the background of the situation. The way it was presented, I didn't get interested enough in any of the characters, although the tension of the situation was good. Gavaznha certainly made me feel for the characters much more.

Buud Yam didn't grab me much at all. Sorry, Art. Your choice should be losing again.

[Mario Gaborović]

Although the kid wasn't a very convincing role

I thought that, too. But you may know the lead actor (who is actually Slovenian) - Bert Sotlar, from Tistega lepega dne/One Fine Day.

[joachimt]

Although the kid wasn't a very convincing role

I thought that, too. But you may know the lead actor (who is actually Slovenian) - Bert Sotlar, from Tistega lepega dne/One Fine Day.

Ah, I thought he looked familiar.

[72aicm]

1. Ne okreci se sine
2. Buud Yam
3. Gavaznha
4. Kholodnoe leto pyatdesyat tretego

A clear winner imo.

[beavis]

1. Kholodnoe leto pyatdesyat tretego - 7,5
2. Buud Yam - 7,5
3. Gavaznha - 7,5
4. Ne okreci se sine - 7,5

Hard to chooce between them actually! only my number 1 had a clear small edge over the other three.
But this is what I make of it now, and will have to do

[sacmersault]

1. Buud Yam 8/10
2. Gavaznha 7/10
3. Ne okreci se sine 6/10
4. Kholodnoe leto pyatdesyat tretego 5/10

Gavaznha was very good just a bit over dramatic and towards the end got a bit floppy.

The last two, it was painful to watch. I was surprised to read that both films are considered some of the best in their countries. The Croatian film was just average to poor and the Russian one was super boring. It felt like one of those movies that they put on Saturday night and that the only person watching in the house is the grandma who doesn't go out. There was absolutely nothing special. I wouldn't say I dislike it; I think it is straight bad.

[joachimt]

1. Kholodnoe leto pyatdesyat tretego - 7,5
2. Buud Yam - 7,5
3. Gavaznha - 7,5
4. Ne okreci se sine - 7,5

Hard to chooce between them actually! only my number 1 had a clear small edge over the other three.
But this is what I make of it now, and will have to do

As clear as smaller than 0.05?

[joachimt]

Differences are getting smaller. Two smallest film-countries in the lead.

1. Ne okreci se sine: 2.143 (26-16)
2. Buud Yam: 2.5 (21-21)
3. Gavaznha: 2.643 (19-23)
4. Kholodnoe leto pyatdesyat tretego: 2.714 (18-24)

[Armoreska]

Maybe if you watched Ne okreci se sine with the new soon to be upgraded sub, it wouldn't've placed last.

[sebby]

1. Gavaznha - 5.5/10
2. Buud Yam - 5.5/10
3. Kholodnoe leto pyatdesyat tretego - 5/10
4. Ne okreci se sine - 4.5/10

Nothing struck me as special in this group. Originally had Buud Yam ahead of Gavaznha, but as I have thought about it more I have to say I prefer Iran's entry by just a hair.

[beavis]

1. Kholodnoe leto pyatdesyat tretego - 7,5
2. Buud Yam - 7,5
3. Gavaznha - 7,5
4. Ne okreci se sine - 7,5

Hard to chooce between them actually! only my number 1 had a clear small edge over the other three.
But this is what I make of it now, and will have to do

As clear as smaller than 0.05?

If you want to express it in a number it's more a personal preference...

No actually i did put it in a number: usually i rate in 5 stars with a half star incline and out of ten points with a half point incline. The Russian movie got rounded off to 4 stars while the others stayed at 3.5 stars... So the exact numerical difference could indeed be between 7.3 and 7.8 if i chose to give points with a tenth point incline

Or between 7.25 and 7.75 if you want to be even more exact. Bottom line is more than a 7 and less than 4 stars for my numbers 1 - 4 with number 1 being at 7.75 and the other three closer to 7.5

[beavis]

Maybe if you watched Ne okreci se sine with the new soon to be upgraded sub, it wouldn't've placed last.

Again more a personal preference than a matter of wonky subs. The subs i found weren't that bad actually and the story and characters were so clear that i at no point felt i was missing something. It's a wellmade movie for me, but too predictable and i didn't like the cliché dramatic way the ending was handeled.

An enjoyable good movie that most people will like but that also has some clear flaws or generic handling of drama gets a 7.5 from me. That discription fits all four movies, hence my ratings. Personal preference sorts out the ranking

[zhangalan]

1. Buud Yam (1997)
2. فیلم گوزنها [The Deer] (1976)
3. Ne okreći se sine [My Son Don't Turn Round] (1956)
4. Холодное лето пятьдесят третьего... [Cold Summer of 1953] (1987)

Remember the Grey Fox tragedy.
Even a forum mafia cannot resist the forum members' hatred towards Arthur.

[zhangalan]

1. Gavaznha
2. Ne okreci se sine
3. Buud Yam
4. Kholodnoe leto pyatdesyat tretego

I watched two films of Masoud Kimiai, Gavaznha and Gheisar. Somehow both films remind me of Jacques Audiard's works, in which on the surface the film is a crime genre, but deep inside it is a character study of the outsiders. Gheisar has more intense and dramatic action scenes, but Gavaznha is better in terms of character development. One thing that surprises me is that the two main characters try to use poverty and social injustice as an excuse of their crime (murder and robbery) and even view their action as act of heroism. This type of controversial characters is what I love of the film since they are more like real people in the real world society and more convincing, unlike the righteous heroes in the blockbusters.
And salute to Behrouz Vossoughi, one of the greatest performance I've seen!

Buud Yam is another film I've seen before in the beginning of this match. Well mix between coming-of-age and adventure with good cinematography (I think this is very important for an adventure film, and I just completed Blade Runner 2049, no kidding the cinematography is what helps me get through the boring first half). I expect to rank Buud Yam second, but then there is a great choice from Croatia, a big surprise that I am glad to meet when this is only the first match of this season. An underrated film noir using WWll as the background. The interaction between the father and the son is emotionally engaging, and the escape scenes are intense and entertaining.

[joachimt]

16 voters in the first week. Let's keep up that pace, people!