2012 MUBI World Cup Voting, Match #6: Bolivia (La nación clandestina) vs. Switzerland ((Absolutions) Pipilotti’s Mistakes)

Bolivia (La nación clandestina) 0 – Switzerland ((Absolutions) Pipilotti’s Mistakes) 1 I

Bolivia (La nación clandestina) 1 – Switzerland ((Absolutions) Pipilotti’s Mistakes) 0

Jorge Sanjinés’ film is simply amazing! Seriously, I was deeply touched by this film, something resonated with me on a different level then any other films in the Cup so far. So glad to participate in this Cup, despite not liking every movies so far I don’t regret watching a single one.

Bolivia (La nación clandestina) 1 – Switzerland ((Absolutions) Pipilotti’s Mistakes) 0

VOTING IS CLOSED

Final tally:
Bolivia (La Nación clandestina) – 16
Switzerland ((Absolutions) Pipilotti’s Mistakes) – 5

The winner is:

BOLIVIA!

¡La unión es la fuerza!

Let us keep the lofty name of our Fatherland
in glorious splendor conserved.
And, on its altars, once more we must swear:
to die before we would live as slaves!
To die before we would live as slaves!
To die before we would live as slaves!

Thanks for giving us the hard facts on shorts, Riss. I still think for conceptual, experimental films by artists such as Rist, context is everything. When we have no ability to know the context or see a few other works to get this context, then I still contend these films are at a very distinct disadvantage.

I DO appreciate the brevity of a short, though, so really think a genre Cup event for these would be a fun (and quick) opportunity at some point to showcase these unique films. It’s not just apples and oranges, as shorts require a whole new way of looking at things than a feature. We have many great shorts in Garage, too, and need a way of getting these seen and discussed. But the votes speak for themselves in this match.

I still think for conceptual, experimental films by artists such as Rist, context is everything. When we have no ability to know the context or see a few other works to get this context, then I still contend these films are at a very distinct disadvantage.

I agree with you, that sure seems to be the case in this situation.

We have many great shorts in Garage, too, and need a way of getting these seen and discussed.

Maybe we should have a Garage Cup!! Or would that be too contentious since so many of the filmmakers are part of our own community here?

Maybe we should have a Garage Cup!! Or would that be too contentious since so many of the filmmakers are part of our own community here?

Well, Riss, I was thinking of a genre Cup involving shorts from anywhere and Garage shorts, too. However, we could pair the Garage shorts as well. Perhaps a competition among the Garage shorts would mean that more people could watch and comment. However, as these are ‘community members’, it might get a bit dicey. If this was seen more as an opportunity to get seen (exposure, exposure, exposure) than a competition, then that might make it more worthwhile. Still, the competition aspect might test some of these Garage ‘friendships’, which may be a bit too close, if you know what I mean :)

Anyway, a discussion for another time after the current WC films have duked it out.

Riss—You are the Stat God. We bow to your excellence, my friend. Very helpful to the discussion.

As soon as someone mentioned Garage I thought a Garage Cup would be a GREAT idea. I might even submit a film myself.

And, hello, Moron! Nice to see you!

If a director tells the story well enough, length shouldn’t be an issue, in my opinion. Some of my favorite films are shorts (like the one i submitted) and some of my favorite films are titanic epics, like the upcoming Extraordinary Stories, it all depends on the story teller to tell it properly. In the case of this particular Rist film, i’m not sure there was a story to tell at all…

and having a garage cup sounds like a fine plan, i havent really gotten around to checking out that part of mubi, so that would force me to!

This was a match to enjoy: a political film Vs a formalist work. No matter the results, the inusual inconter of these two forces have to lead to many reflections on film and its supposed functions in society. “La nación clandestina” is framed within a tradition of political/ethical-awakening-of-conscience films with the added value of a narrative structure that permanently compares and contrasts the past and the present, the self and the foreing, the colective and the individual, in one man´s life.
Pippiloti´s work also lead to an awakening of conscience, but in other terms: this conscience is on one specific medium and one moment of history of moving images. Probably in some time this reflection on analog video images can seem to be dated due to the faster transformations of video technologies, but conscience as an act itself will keep updating and continue dialoguing.