Page 6 June 7, 2018 EL SEGUNDO HERALD
Entertainment
Soccer Brings Hope in Ultimate
Underdog Story The Workers Cup
By H. Nelson Tracey
for www.cinemacy.com
In the documentary world, we often get one
of two types of stories: the broad-stroked tale
of a massive issue, or an intimate slice of life
of ultra-specific characters. Occasionally, we
get a film that manages to merge the two,
which ends up telling a much richer story. We
have one of these cinematic hybrids with The
Workers Cup, opening at the Laemmle Monica
Film Center on June 8.
Doha, Qatar is scheduled to be the home
of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Since receiving
the controversial bid, there has been a general
awareness that the working conditions while
building this massive infrastructure borders
on modern slavery. The stadium workers are
immigrants, coming from poor countries in
all directions. Their rights as workers are
nonexistent, and notably missing two vital
freedoms: the freedom to quit and the freedom
to change jobs freely -- freedoms we don’t
even recognize as such in the U.S.
The Workers Cup profiles one of these
workers at the Gulf Contracting Company
(GCC), a group focusing on construction. In
an effort to boost morale amongst the abysmal
working conditions, the GCC and other Qatar
construction companies have formed a soccer
(football) league for friendly competition
between employees. The documentary follows
the GCC team in their hopes of achieving
tournament success -- the silver lining to their
otherwise grim situation.
Among the teammates, we get a vibrant
and eclectic group of characters coming from
Kenya, Ghana, Nepal and India. Despite their
cultural differences, the team is united in its
pursuit of victory. In a working situation, where
emotion can only be expressed in a few ways,
bringing this victory to their team is one of
their only positive outlets.
When we watch professional athletes, there is
sometimes a neutralization of emotions -- as
every one of these figures is typically at the peak
of their game. But when we watch a team of
construction workers-turned-athletes competing
for a prize that truly has the potential to be lifealtering,
suddenly I began to feel the enthusiasm
and emotion that I would if I were to watch my
favorite team play. This is the brilliance of the
story portrayed. It introduces us to a team of
people we easily become attached to, and then
takes us on their journey toward a major goal.
It’s the ultimate underdog story, and therefore
a gripping adventure towards a dream. Coupled
with the fact that this micro-story also represents
a massive global epidemic of failed economies
and allowing big business to destroy the lives
of its employees, you can bet there is a lot of
great subtext in these soccer games.
Director Adam Sobel’s access to the intimate
lives of these figures is on clear display. The
intentionality of his shooting shows that he
has culled the absolute best material to tell
his story. Symbolic images from the kitchen
preparation of unimaginable amounts of food
effectively shows us the massive number of
people we’re dealing with. Interesting facts:
60 percent of Qatar’s population are immigrant
workers -- over 1 million out of a 2 millionperson
country. Additionally, the ratio of men:
women in Qatar is 6:1.
These observations are a long-winded way
to say that The Workers Cup is a standout in
nonfiction filmmaking. There are numerous
other details that make this film memorable,
but I’d rather allow an audience to experience
the expertly told, emotionally charged journey
filled with triumph and anguish, and an early
Cinemacy favorite.
The Workers Cup is not rated. 92 minutes.
Opening this Friday at the Laemmle Monica
Film Center tomorrow. •
The Workers Cup. Courtesy of Passion River.
Wiseburn School Board Honors
Long-Standing District Employees
By Duane Plank
The very-well attended May 31 meeting of
the Wiseburn School Board featured recognition
of seven employees for their long-term
tenure. Those feted for their service to Wiseburn
Unified School District included Susan
Daniels, Dana Middle School, 35 years;
Jennifer Flanders, Burnett Elementary, 30
years; Melissa Mathias, Burnett Elementary,
30 years; Sylvia Wagner, Anza Elementary,
30 years; S. Renee Amaral, 25 years, Anza
Elementary; Marcos Chavez, 25 years, Dana
Middle School; and Catherine Koundakjian,
Anza Elementary, 25 years.
Superintendent Dr. Tom Johnstone said
it was “amazing” to him that many of the
tenured honorees are third grade teachers
in the District. “One of the nicest nights
of the year,” he said, being able to “honor
people who have made a big difference in
the community.”
Daniels, a Dana campus tech aide, was
unable to attend the meeting, but Dr. Blake
Silvers, current principal at Dana who will be
taking over for the retiring Johnstone at the
end of the month, had emailed that Daniels
exhibits “a tremendous amount of flexibility
and willingness to support school programs,”
and that he was also “so very thankful for her
positivity, her commitment to Dana Middle
School, and her reliability.”
Anza Elementary Principal Alberto Paredes
took to the presentation podium to extol the
virtues of his site honorees. “These teachers
work tirelessly, are dedicated and passionate,”
he said. He then noted that he had gathered
comments from some of their Anza teaching
colleagues, and shared these thoughts with
the meeting attendees.
Of third grade teacher Koundakjian, Paredes
noted that her fellow teachers praised
her for being a “true-champion of the little
guy,” calling her “the first person to celebrate
someone else’s success.” Of second grade
teacher Renee Amaral, Paredes, quoting colleagues,
called her “the glue that keeps the
staff together” and paid compliment to the
fact that “every year she raises thousands of
dollars for our school.”
Paredes also shared colleagues’ thoughts
on third grade teacher Wagner, who was
called “so well-respected that, in some of
the most difficult times, she is the voice of
reason among our staff and makes class feel
like a family.”
First-year Burnett Elementary Principal
Kim Jones also gathered observations from
colleagues and friends on the teaching careers
of Mathias and Flanders, both third grade
teachers. Mathias was hailed as “great support,”
who is “always willing to be a voice
for other teachers” and has partnered with
other instructors in a collaborative way to
strengthen their teaching skills. Flanders was
called “a team player and a kind, natural
leader, as well as “an amazing teacher, friend,
mother and wife.”
Dana School head custodian Marcos Chavez
was unable to attend the meeting because of a
death in the family. Silvers spoke about what
Chavez has meant to the Wiseburn faculty,
students and parents over the years. He called
him the “true cornerstone of Dana Middle
School” and noted the “welcoming environment”
that Chavez helps cultivate. Johnstone
referred to Chavez and his brother Miguel
(head custodian at Cabrillo) as “Wiseburn
treasures.”
After a brief reception to honor the longevity
honorees, the meeting continued with
comments from the public to the Board and
a public hearing on the pending renewal of
charter petitions for the Da Vinci schools. A
group of Da Vinci students approached the
podium and touted their upcoming summer
camps, as well as expressing their views
regarding certain school admission policies.
Next on the agenda were “from the public”
comments to the Board. Normally these comments
are limited to a total of 20 minutes, with
individual speakers asked to condense their
musings to three minutes or less. Thursday
night’s meeting, however, featured multiple
groups of speakers -- with topics including
the benefits of ultimate frisbee and trying to
secure space for such endeavors; Da Vinci dress
codes; a better social comingling of students
who attend the three Da Vinci schools; the
possibility of a tutoring program involving
elementary school students and high school
mentors; challenges with the ongoing Child
Development Program, which has recently had
the full-day Pre-K program at Anza continued
for the 2018/19 school year; support of the
hoped-for passing of Measure W, which local
voters faced on June 5; the perceived lack
of baseball/softball fields in the district; the
need, in the speaker opinions, to continue to
upgrade high school sports programs; and the
SAT and ACT preparation currently available
to high schoolers.
Board President JoAnne Kaneda thanked
all the members of the public who spoke
for nearly 40 minutes about their concerns
and praised them for “using your voice to
speak to us.”
Board member Israel Mora, who also
serves on the Da Vinci School Board, noted
to the student speaker that “there is a Da
Vinci board” that they should probably go
to first to raise their concerns regarding the
high school.
The Board next gave their reports, with
the overwhelming theme being appreciation
of the members of the public who took the
time to speak last. The group also lauded
the selection of Lisa Wilberg to become the
new assistant principal at Dana, as well as
the positive trajectory of education in Wiseburn.
Kaneda added her thoughts, saying that
“what we do in Wiseburn is we teach them
how to think.”
As the District winds down the school
year, items on the June calendar include
dissecting the results of the Tuesday evening
school bond vote, yesterday’s Concert on the
Green; Da Vinci graduations on June 12, as
well as School Board meetings on June 14
and 26 and the Dana graduation ceremony
on June 14.
Action items tackled Thursday night primarily
revolved around construction projects
for facilities surfacing and striping at District
schools, and the ever-present soil issues still
being managed at Wiseburn High acreage on
Douglas Street. District Director, Facilities
Planning Vince Madsen gave a positive report,
noting the ongoing challenges dealing with the
grading and the pesky dirt issues at the new
high school as construction continues full-bore
on the aquatics center, gym and soccer field.
Representatives of Balfour Beatty and
Sharefest presented a $1,000 scholarship
to Da Vinci Design student Donell Tinsley,
who will be attending Cal Poly Pomona to
study architecture. Balfour Beatty, which is
managing the ongoing construction project
at the high school, partners with Sharefest
-- a non-profit organization that specializes in
community beautification projects -- to spruce
up school facilities. They also provide grant
scholarships to worthy recipients. Tinsley’s
father attended the meeting and said that
“this is a very special school district. You
folks do a great job here. I truly appreciate
all of you.” •
“An investment in knowledge
pays the best interest.
– Benjamin Franklin
H. Nelson Tracey.
Film Review