#two mono talks posts in a row how lucky .

[monochromeia]

Almost wondered why Halloween was trending and then i remembered what website I'm on. I'd be concerned if it wasnt.

[teamsaul]

My Super Cup ❤️

Your team lifting the cup in your hometown, your favourite player scoring the winning goal (true golazo, so our banner was on point) and waving to you during the celebration, fans singing together and congratulating each other – what a night to remember.

Photos inside. Videos of our special moments can be watched here and are numbered 1–4 in the text.

Tickets

I was surprised when Tallinn got the right to host the UEFA Super Cup, because our stadium is really small (back then it had 10000 seats). In preparation for the match, the stadium's capacity was increased to 15000 seats, but a couple of thousands of tickets were given to the media, guests etc. So imagine the stress when there is 7–10 times more fans that the tickets. Me and @sashosasho applied for the tickets via UEFA lottery system… and our application was not successful. It hurt, it really did – seeing your dreams breaking and having no clue what to do next. I was begging the higher powers to at least give me a hint.

And then it happened. Two weeks later I got an email from UEFA with the second chance code for the tickets. These tickets were for seats with a slightly restricted view and were sold on a first come, first served basis. I read the email half an hour after receiving it, so my hands were shaking. I tried to add any tickets to the basket (actually we wanted 3) and after 20 minutes somehow managed to add one… It wasn’t possible to go back without losing it, so I decided to buy it and hope for more tickets later. The second chance was already a miracle because very few people got that e-mail. But I really needed that miracle.

Sasha was also very lucky to buy his ticket at the official resale (people could return the tickets during a short period of time if they didn’t need them anymore), but we didn’t manage to get the third ticket for our friend who was coming to Tallinn at the same time. So me buying that one ticket before turned out to be a right decision.

Team arrival

We decided to greet the team at the hotel entrance because it was very likely that they would go to the bus straight from the plane (and they did). We were among the last ones to press into the first row. Atleti’s and other club’s hotels were only 100 m from each other, so there were a lot of youngsters running back and force. When the team arrived, the crowd went crazy. When we called Saul and he saw us with the banner, the smile spread across his face and he waved to us (video 1).

The journalists asked us to pose for a photo with the other fans. Since the other team was arriving later, the biggest part of the crowd ran there.

Atleti fans were in a merry mood and started to sing. Cerezo also wanted to have a photo.

Marca knows how to choose the highlights.

The second bus with the staff members came a bit later. Atleti’s IG manager saw our banner and came to ask about the meaning of Saulazo. I explained that it was because of his golazos and she liked the idea. She took a moving photo for Atleti’s IG story and promised that Saul would see it. Not only did he see it, but he also reposted it to his story. 

It was really really heartwarming and emotional. And he also saved it to the highlights (the last story in Pretemporada)!

The funny thing is that we got so overwhelmed when Saul waved to us that we totally missed Antoine. We were sure he would arrive later and kept on waiting (Saul once arrived more than an hour later than the other U21 members because of doping control and interviews). Of course Antoine was already in the hotel, but we got a chance to take a photo with Mono Burgos.

Before and after the training

We went to the hotel again. When the team was going to the training, I called Saul...

...and he gave the sign that could only mean one thing – on the way back (video 2). I couldn’t believe my eyes. Did Saul just promise to come back?!

And he did. He went straight to us and signed my card (video 3).

Then he looked at the crowd, asked my marker back and gave quite a lot of autographs.

Since I was the closest one, I helped to hold some albums from the second row. I have no idea how did I find the courage, but when Saul gave the marker back, I asked him to take a selfie with us (we couldn’t do it ourselves in the crowd).

He took the phone and here is the most beautiful selfie in the world.

This felt and still feels unreal.

Filipe and Rodri also stopped to give some autographs and a lot of other players waved to the fans. The fans came from all over the world – we talked to fans from Spain, Switzerland and Hong Kong. The atmosphere was really friendly and pleasant.

Tallinn is rojiblanco

In the match day morning we went to the official fan zone to take some photos with the cups.

We sang with the Spanish fans for some TV channel once again and also met Atleti fans from Russia that had known me from the internet. Some Estonian kids whispered: “Look, here are the Saul ones from the hotel. They must be some relatives.” We proudly marched with the Saulazo banner through the old center. Tallinn was totally rojiblanco. Atleti sold all the tickets that were meant for the socios, while the other club returned some. And Atleti fans were definitely more visible, singing, greeting each other and taking photos. Later a lot of local people said that they were amazed by the Atleti fans. The other club fans’ meeting point was at the Town Hall Square and ours was near the gates of the Old Town. First I thought that they got the coolest one, but ours turned out to be a lot better – there were benches to sit and places to hang the banners and more people were passing it by. We hung out there for some time, because the atmosphere was just amazing. Theo Griezmann was sitting in front of us and eating some McDonald’s hamburger.

The match

We were not sitting together, so we agreed to check our seats and then see if we could hang out together before the match. But instead of climbing my sector I somehow found myself checking if it was possible to enter the closest sector to the warm up. It was, I called Sasha and we went there. The staff put agility ladders just in front of us, so we could see the whole team train really close. The pitch entrance is located on the short side of the stadium and it was Atleti’s side. Imagine the greeting the other team got. When the warm up ended, we were asked to go to our seats which turned out to be some really good ones. Mine was on the top of the central VIP sector and here is the “restricted view”.

Once I took my seat, I realized how big was the occasion and I was there and had a chance to witness it. The early goal was fun, but then the game got really intense. When Saul scored that winning goal, I went crazy. I got a message from our friend, who didn’t get a ticket and watched the game at home with my mom. It said “Sauuuuuuuuuuuuul” and I replied with “Saulazo!!!!!!!!” Sasha was sitting in the sixth row of the short side and it was exactly where Saul made the archer celebration. After Koke’s goal we decided to meet during the break and then go to my sector (there was a free seat near the post), because it seemed to be a good place to watch the award ceremony.

I even managed to catch some confetti that I still keep.

Then the team went to celebrate the victory with the fans and we went to the same sector where we had watched the warm up. A lot of people had already left so we could easily hold our banner high. The celebration was amazing, the players and the fans were really grateful to each other. Suddenly Saul saw us… and waved to us! We started to jump from happiness (video 4). Very very heartwarming from him again.

It wasn’t possible to catch a taxi near the stadium, so we walked holding the banner and a lot of fans congratulated us and asked for a photo… telling that it was the banner of the night. We couldn’t be more proud.

It was a dream. But dreams come true.

[chicagoindiecritics]

New from Every Movie Has a Lesson by Don Shanahan: OSCAR PREDICTIONS 2020: The minor film categories

(Image: hypable.com)

PART 2: THE MINOR FILM CATEGORIES

The short turnaround 92nd Academy Awards arrive host-free for the second consecutive year on Sunday, February 9th, barely a month after nominations were announced. The pace has added excitement and urgency right on down to my website’s 2020 Awards Tracker. Let’s start calling some winners. As always, that prognostication data is cited in these predictions. This column examines the minor film categories of international, animated, and documentary films. As I say every year, stick with me and I will win you your Oscar pool!

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM

The nominees: Corpus Christi, Honeyland, Les Misérables, Pain and Glory, Parasite

Who should be here: These are likely the top and best five. Maybe I can throw a bone to Monos, but we’re getting pretty obscure once we all realize the juggernaut in the category.

Who should feel lucky to be there: Every film not named Parasite is the answer. Jokes aside, I must say I don’t mind the category re-naming to give this a little extra rub of prominence.

Who should win and will win: This is a no-doubter for Parasite, arguably the hyperbole-driven “movie of the year.” Sure, once could ask for wealth to be spread towards Almodovar’s Pain and Glory, but the renowned filmmaker already owns two Oscars to Bong Joon-ho’s zero. This will be a stunner and a possible precursor if it’s NOT Parasite. That could very well mean Parasite wins the top spot instead of this easy one. Be watching!

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

The nominees: How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, I Lost My Body, Klaus, Missing Link, Toy Story 4

Who should be here: In my opinion, these are the right five, Frozen II be damned.

Who should feel lucky to be there: Klaus is the luckiest one where we have Netflix topping Disney, which is a really cool thing. Maybe this will nudge the Mouse House that originality gets honored more competitively that repetition. We could only hope.

Who should win: To keep the originality vibe going, let’s have the indie animated movie win for a change. I Lost My Body is a worthy, original, and soulful work. To me, that beats the cash grab sequel that’s going to win on the home television network it owns.

Who will win: My review flak and soapbox history with Toy Story 4 is well-known here. I don’t think it should win or be here, but it’s going to win. The craft is good enough and the franchise is beloved. The favoritism is too high. I’ll be the jerk rooting for an upset.

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

The nominees: American Factory, The Cave, The Edge of Democracy, For Sama, Honeyland

Who should be here: The Academy makes me scratch my head. For the second year in a row, the most popular, well-reviewed, and publicly favored documentary of the year was excluded from the field. Apollo 11 is as imperatively important and worthy as any documentary in history. It has more than 30 award season wins, lapping these other nominees combined and twice over. It should be accepting a trophy on stage Sunday.

Who should feel lucky to be there: With Apollo 11 out, all five should feel lucky whatever discerning voting body that picks this field noticed them. Talk about changing the culture. I’d start in documentary.

Who should win: If we’re going for power and drama along with facts, For Sama is the heartbreaker that should sway voters with gobs of empathy. However, I think politics tend to win in this category and it will again.

Who will win: As a middle-finger to the current administration and wealthy genuflect to a departed hero, I think American Factory produced by the company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama carries the favor and sentiment. If the former first couple walks the red carpet and attend the ceremony, expect a big standing ovation days after a crass State of the Union and an impeachment acquittal.

BEST LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM

The nominees: Brotherhood, Nefta Football Club, The Neighbours’ Window, Saria, A Sister

Who should be here: Good luck digging. As connected as I am, I don’t know the depth of this field any more than most. The five here are solid enough.

Who should feel lucky to be there: We’ve reached that part of the ceremony of fringe and non-featured categories that will probably be given during a commercial break. They’re all lucky.

Who should win and will win: In this dartboard category with virtually no awards season data to go off of, I go straight to the Vegas betting odds. Brotherhood is where the money is going. Give it a checkbox.

BEST ANIMATED SHORT

The nominees: Dcera (Daughter), Hair Love, Kitbull, Memorable, Sister

Who should be here: In a surprise, there was no Pixar-branded short that played before its annual June release, that being Toy Story 4. Normally, that is a shoe-in nominee in this field.

Who should feel lucky to be there: SEE LIVE ACTION SHORT

Who should win: Now I’ve actually seen these five and can give some love and true opinion. The best one I saw was the claymation drama Dcera (Daughter). Smudges matched character and intimate cinematography to move around the family subjects of grief was very striking. It really stood out something unique and artistic.

Who will win: Even without a mainstream Pixar choice, I’m still putting my money on the brand. One of their smaller PixarSpark selections was Kitbull, a charming little story of neighborly friendship between a chained and abused dog and an alley kitten. It went with refreshing 2D animation and brought the Pixar Punch heart. I think it wins people over.

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT

The nominees: In the Absence, Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone, Life Overtakes Me, St Louis Superman, Walk Run Cha-Cha

Who should be here: SEE BEST LIVE-ACTION SHORT FILM

Who should feel lucky to be there: SEE BEST LIVE-ACTION SHORT FILM

Who should win and who will win: Fitting and with positive effort, topical politics tends to these documentary categories. Look no further than American Factory in the feature section. Here in the shorts, put your Oscar pool wager on St. Louis Superman chronicling the political rise and struggles of rapper Bruce Franks, Jr. during the post-Ferguson time period. That kind of content pushes the buttons and earns votes.

NEXT: THE VISUAL AND ARTISTIC CATEGORIES

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