World Cup, Season 3, Match 1E: Czechia vs Australia vs Latvia vs Bolivia

[joachimt]

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

Country	Original Title	English Title	Year	Manager	IMDB	ICM
Czechia	Neúplné zatmení	Incomplete Eclipse	1983	Carmel98	link	link
Australia	Samson and Delilah		2009	Daviddoes	link	link
Latvia	Motociklu vasara	Summer of Motorcycles	1975	RogerTheMovieManiac88	link	link
Bolivia	Ukamau	And So It Is	1966	burneyfan	link	link

Screenshots

Neúplné zatmení


Samson and Delilah


Motociklu vasara


Ukamau

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 = Apr 8th
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

[Armoreska]

The English Title of Latvian movie is Summer of Motorcycles

Why is there a pot if the subs are available? I'll check them against the russian sub.

[joachimt]

The English Title of Latvian movie is Summer of Motorcycles

Added

[Mario Gaborović]

1. Ukamau
2. Motociklu vasara
3. Neúplné zatmení
4. Samson and Delilah

Only the Aymara was pretty strong.

[sol]

Slightly (okay, severely) off-topic, but can I manage a country next year even if I don't participate in the World Cup? Australia has some truly awesome unsung gems out there, and imho I would not include Samson and Delilah among them.

[Armoreska]

No. I'm sure we've got enough of those.

I should be able to fit Motociklu vasara's english sub into much less bulky russian sub timings later. Gonna watch with the russian sub right now.

[monty]

Australia has some truly awesome unsung gems out there, and imho I would not include Samson and Delilah among them.

Why? Because it deals with the extremely harsh conditions many aboriginals live under? Because it doesn't sufficiently whitewash the country's long history of discrimination against aboriginals?

[sol]

Australia has some truly awesome unsung gems out there, and imho I would not include Samson and Delilah among them.

Why? Because it deals with the extremely harsh conditions many aboriginals live under? Because it doesn't sufficiently whitewash the country's long history of discrimination against aboriginals?

No. Because it's built on a gimmick that becomes glaringly artificial by the time the film is over. This what I wrote about the movie at the time:

Samson & Delilah (2009). Blamed for her grandmother's death and excommunicated, a young Aboriginal woman heads to the city, accompanied by a young Aboriginal man with a petrol sniffing habit, in this Australian drama. Marketed with the simple tagline "True Love", Samson & Delilah tries to be a romantic drama with a difference, and as the two 'lovers' barely speak to each other and mostly communicate through grunts and groans, this is certainly not your average romance film. In fact, the male protagonist only ever says one word aloud. The novelty of this approach wears thin pretty quickly though and as it becomes glaringly obvious that writer-director Warwick Thornton is doing everything he can to avoid them speaking to another, the whole film begins to feel artificial. I liked the beautiful sunrises, vast outback scenery and starkly different city landscapes that Thornton added to the mix here, and the performances are solid all round, but given how manufactured it feels, the film only gets a cautious recommendation from me.

[Carmel1379]

My review of 'Incomplete Eclipse', from the CuM SWAP with PdA:

Man is alone. Everyone lives alone with himself. The sooner you realize this, the better.

//some spoilers//


"Man is alone. Everyone lives alone with himself. The sooner you realize this, the better."

This phrase should particularly ring a bell for 14 year old, visually impaired Marta Rezkova. Her doctor and instructor advises this realization so that she can stop being afraid to "take the jump" and make a better effort to orient herself anew in her environment after losing sight. Focus on sounds, snap fingers to identify the degree of echo, learn Braille, use a yoyo to estimate the depth in front. But Marta doesn't seem interested. Not only does is the prospect of staying in a special boarding school until she graduates high school at 18 frightening enough, but Marta also believes that her sickly condition is life-long.

What exactly does she suffer from? It's not exactly blindness, because during her trip to the "life- threatening third floor", she tells a boy she sees "wave shapes, certain colours and movements", things she cannot understand and is unable to explain, i.e. a personal experience (or, as they were called in a different scene by someone else, "a private cinema" (resembling the concept of a "prisoner's cinema") with colours, lights and self- induced sensations) - phosphene. The film tries to visualize these through the occasional 'Vetigo'-like/Saul Bass-like on-screen visual effects and designs, that also nicely serve to quickly get to an entirely different scene, some of which are likely also part of Marta's imagination or memory. I was reminded of 'Vertigo' earlier though - right after the "blackout" and confusion there're the opening credits with mysterious music reminiscent of Bernard Herrmann's score. It nicely continues throughout the film to give a sense of anxiety.

I don't think that it's a coincidence that repeated terms and motifs, such as "nausea" after the "fall" in the "amusement park", the aforementioned "life-threatening" third floor with no railings (the cliff before the abyss of death?), dizziness, sickness, loneliness, eclipse, losing grip of reality, losing sight or "fear" before the "jump", correspond to an amalgamation of existentialist ideas and book titles. Marta is mocked in both schools she attends – first she must draw a monster blindfolded, but the teacher writes "self-portrait" above for the amusement of the class, marginalising Marta – the source of fun and mockery. In her second school she is unable to perform at a gym class and runs away. Moreover, she thinks about suicide ("such life is not worth living"), which she could do if she "let go" from the floor without a railing before "the abyss" (of which she dreams too), and sees a psychologist (that uses her in his research, encourages her to chant "Me! Me! Me! We're not afraid of anything" and love herself, that in the end helps Marta persevere and make the right kind of jump: the life-embracing one, where she faces fear and lands on her feet).

-"How do you perceive fear?" -"Black. (…) I'm falling, dropping down very fast from a great height. It's all black. It's as if something slumped or tore off inside me."

Hence 'Incomplete Eclipse' is a nice allegory for a (coming-of-age) existentialist condition. It's just pleasant to watch. Technically and pacing-wise I was reminded of 'The Cremator': a fast pace, with some "illogical" editing, a voice-over, subjective approach and recurring motifs associated with height, falling and perception (there is quite the 'Vertigo' connection). This is the second Jireš film I've seen (the first was "Valerie", which is one of my favourite films), and with both he shows competence and preoccupation with interesting themes, though "Eclipse" is more straight-forward and less layered.

7/10

[Pretentious Hipster]

1. Ukamau (1966)
2. Samson and Delilah (2009)
3. Motociklu Vasara [Motorcycle Summer] (1975)
4. Neúplné zatmění [Incomplete Eclipse] (1982)

[joachimt]

Slightly (okay, severely) off-topic, but can I manage a country next year even if I don't participate in the World Cup? Australia has some truly awesome unsung gems out there, and imho I would not include Samson and Delilah among them.

There's no rule you have to participate in the matches if you manage a country, but I'm not really fond of the idea. Would be nice if you at least join in the matches that seem interesting to you.

On the other hand, when managers sign up, I don't know if they will watch the matches as well. The only thing I really ask of those members is that they stick around and meet the deadlines when they should submit a movie.

[Cocoa]

1. Ukamau 7/10
2. Samson and Delilah 7/10
3. Motociklu vasara 6/10
4. Neúplné zatmení 6/10

I don't strongly like any of these films, but I don't hate any one of them either, so this was an okay and will likely be a forgettable match.

[Armoreska]

Neuplne Zatmeni 8/10
Motociklu vasara 7(6.5)/10
Ukamau 6/10
Samson And Delilah [2009] 5/10

no idea about the final order in this round, looks like an interesting battle

[zhangalan]

1. Ukamau (1966)
2. Motociklu Vasara [Motorcycle Summer] (1975)
3. Neúplné zatmění [Incomplete Eclipse] (1982)
4. Samson and Delilah (2009)

The female lead of Motociklu Vasara is charming. Too bad this seems to be the only film she starred.

[joachimt]

Neuplne Zatmeni 8/10
Motociklu vasara 7(6.5)/10
Ukamau 6/10
Samson And Delilah [2009] 5/10

no idea about the final order in this round, looks like an interesting battle

So far you're the only one who didn't put Ukamau on top. If this continues Bolivia surely wins.

[edward5]

1. Ukamau 7/10
2. Motociklu vasara 7/10
3. Samson and Delilah 6/10
4. Neúplné zatmení 6/10 disappointed, there are so many good movies from Czechia

[toro913]

Weakest round so far

1 Neúplné zatmení
2 Samson and Delilah
3 Ukamau
4 Motociklu vasara

[joachimt]

Weakest round so far

1 Neúplné zatmení
2 Samson and Delilah
3 Ukamau
4 Motociklu vasara

You didn't even dare to post your ratings?
I noticed your 2.4/10 on Criticker for Motociklu vasara.

[Armoreska]

The new sub for Motociklu vasara from the russian timings.

The russian translation is better by the way, but I only fixed the typos and added a few lines.

Attachments:

• Motociklu_vasara_v2.srt (33.76 KB)

[Armoreska]

Neuplne Zatmeni 8/10
Motociklu vasara 7(6.5)/10
Ukamau 6/10
Samson And Delilah [2009] 5/10

no idea about the final order in this round, looks like an interesting battle

So far you're the only one who didn't put Ukamau on top. If this continues Bolivia surely wins.

Right now I'd bet Czechia and Bolivia to advance

[Mario Gaborović]

Ukamau: 17-4
Motociklu vasara: 10-11
Neúplné zatmení: 8-13
Samson and Delilah: 7-14

[weirdboy]

The English Title of Latvian movie is Summer of Motorcycles

Plex Movie says the title is "Motorcycle Summer".

[Armoreska]

The English Title of Latvian movie is Summer of Motorcycles

Plex Movie says the title is "Motorcycle Summer".

Well that's a vague meaning. Is it a movie about a Motorcycle brand, Summer?

[Mario Gaborović]

The English Title of Latvian movie is Summer of Motorcycles

Plex Movie says the title is "Motorcycle Summer".

Well that's a vague meaning. Is it a movie about a Motorcycle brand, Summer?

There's no such brand. But I wonder which brand are those motorcycles in, probably Ural. You'd know better than me, I presume since those occupied USSR market in largest number.

[RogerTheMovieManiac88]

The English Title of Latvian movie is Summer of Motorcycles

Plex Movie says the title is "Motorcycle Summer".

Well that's a vague meaning. Is it a movie about a Motorcycle brand, Summer?

From my limited comprehension of the Latvian language, I understand that the singular, i.e. 'motorcycle', is translated as 'motociklu' and that the plural inserts an 'i' in place of the 'u' to make 'motocikli'.

I believe, therefore, that the correct title in translation is 'Motorcycle Summer'. I suppose it refers to the one bike that he and she share to explore the vagaries and mysteries of themselves and the rural wonderland that they fleetingly immerse themselves in with such abandon and openness.

[Mario Gaborović]

Plex Movie says the title is "Motorcycle Summer".

Well that's a vague meaning. Is it a movie about a Motorcycle brand, Summer?

From my limited comprehension of the Latvian language, I understand that the singular, i.e. 'motorcycle', is translated as 'motociklu' and that the plural inserts an 'i' in place of the 'u' to make 'motocikli'.

I believe, therefore, that the correct title in translation is 'Motorcycle Summer'. I suppose it refers to the one bike that he and she share to explore the vagaries and mysteries of themselves and the rural wonderland that they fleetingly immerse themselves in with such abandon and openness.

I suppose you discovered it at SMz since there's a Latvian person there who tirelessly translates films from his country.

[RogerTheMovieManiac88]

Well that's a vague meaning. Is it a movie about a Motorcycle brand, Summer?

From my limited comprehension of the Latvian language, I understand that the singular, i.e. 'motorcycle', is translated as 'motociklu' and that the plural inserts an 'i' in place of the 'u' to make 'motocikli'.

I believe, therefore, that the correct title in translation is 'Motorcycle Summer'. I suppose it refers to the one bike that he and she share to explore the vagaries and mysteries of themselves and the rural wonderland that they fleetingly immerse themselves in with such abandon and openness.

I suppose you discovered it at SMz since there's a Latvian person there who tirelessly translates films from his country.

Nah, I've never used that site. I watched the film on YouTube but the upload I watched seems to have disappeared. It didn't have the logo in the top right.

[RogerTheMovieManiac88]

Plex Movie says the title is "Motorcycle Summer".

Well that's a vague meaning. Is it a movie about a Motorcycle brand, Summer?

There's no such brand. But I wonder which brand are those motorcycles in, probably Ural. You'd know better than me, I presume since those occupied USSR market in largest number.

After a bit of googling it would seem that the motorcycle of the title is an Izhevsk Planeta Sport. It was apparently styled after Japanese bikes. The Planeta Sport was the first mass-produced sports motorcycle in the Soviet Union and was unveiled in 1974, the year before Uldis Brauns' film was released. A nice showcase for the then new product!

[72aicm]

1. Neúplné zatmení
2. Samson & Delilah
3. Ukamau
4. Motociklu vasara

[joachimt]

1. Ukamau 7+/10
2. Neúplné zatmení 7-/10
3. Motociklu vasara 6/10
4. Samson and Delilah 5/10

I watched Ukamau 4.5 years ago, when I just started my Unesco-challenge. I don't remember it vividly, but I jumped through the movie yesterday to revive my memory and it was certainly better than the other three. None of those blew me away.

Neúplné zatmení had an interesting story and the girl did a good job. I just felt it didn't go deep enough into the emotional and sociological consequences of what happened to her.

Motociklu vasara had some charming moments, but overall too thin to make an impression.

Samson and Delilah bored me. The lack of dialogue and the lack of story didn't really work for me. And should I feel sorry for them? Sure, I felt sorry for the way "normal" people looked at them, but apart from that Samson was an annoying asshole. Or maybe I missed something? Why the hell did he

Spoiler: click to toggle

assault those musicians and smash their instruments? Because he couldn't play with them? Is he like 5 years old? What kind of a reaction is that? Did those guys do anything wrong to him? That was really a WTF-moment. And after that some women were attacking Delilah because she supposedly neglected taking care of the old lady.

Because of those scenes I'm wondering if this is normal behavior in an aboriginal society. This movie makes me feel negative about them. I hope that was not the purpose and I'm just a dumb ignorant watcher who's not intelligent enough to get the point of this movie.

[beavis]

Neúplné zatmení - 8
Ukamau - 7
Motociklu vasara - 7
Samson & Delilah - 7

[klaus78]

1. Motociklu vasara (Latvia) 7/10
2. Samson and Delilah (Australia) 6/10
3. Neúplné zatmení (Czechia) 6/10
4. Ukamau (Bolivia) 5/10

[joachimt]

Ukamau: 1.909 (23-10)
Neúplné zatmení: 2.455 (17-16)
Motociklu vasara: 2.636 (15-18)
Samson and Delilah: 3 (11-22)

[zuma]

01. Ukamau

02. Samson and Delilah

03. Neúplné zatmení

04. Motociklu vasara

[tarr]

1. Neuplne zatmeni - 8
2. Samson and Delilah - 7
3. Ukamau - 6
4. Motociklu Vasara - 6

[RogerTheMovieManiac88]

A lot of harsh raters on here, haha. 6s, 7s and 8s abound. 'Motociklu vasara' looks doomed.

[joachimt]

A lot of harsh raters on here, haha. 6s, 7s and 8s abound. 'Motociklu vasara' looks doomed.

What's harsh about 6's, 7's and 8's? Did you expect people to rate lots of 9's and 10's in the world cup? For a lot of people 6 is average, so lots of 7's and 8's is not that bad. To me Motociklu vasara didn't rise above average.

[RogerTheMovieManiac88]

A lot of harsh raters on here, haha. 6s, 7s and 8s abound. 'Motociklu vasara' looks doomed.

What's harsh about 6's, 7's and 8's? Did you expect people to rate lots of 9's and 10's in the world cup? For a lot of people 6 is average, so lots of 7's and 8's is not that bad. To me Motociklu vasara didn't rise above average.

Well, 6 is an average film for me as well. 7 is a like with minor shortcomings. 8 is a very fine film but short of greatness. 9 is either a borderline great or a particular favourite. 10 is a film to cherish with every fibre of my being.

Going by my ratings framework, I would personally expect to hand out at least one and maybe two 9s in each match. Most people surely are nominating films that are at least personal favourites. 'Motociklu' vasara' is a film that falls into the category of 'favourite' and 'Ukamau' is a truly masterful film. How someone can rate 'Ukamau' a 6/10 I truly cannot comprehend.

Here's a little sharing of reactions from the old IMDb boards between myself and jdidaco on 'Motociklu vasara' and its qualities: https://filmboards.com/board/p/893/4/.

Maybe I'm just a more forgiving rater than is the norm!

[Mario Gaborović]

A lot of harsh raters on here, haha. 6s, 7s and 8s abound. 'Motociklu vasara' looks doomed.

Wait until sebby comes forward.

Before him it was mightysparks, but she gave up of cups.

[funkybusiness]

I would be no one's friend if I was assigning numerical values to the World Cup films lol

(except last round, that round was good, sans one)