Team Qatar
Tribeca Film Festival Mini-Review No. 6
http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/watchdog/blog/2009/04/tribeca_film_fes...
"Team Qatar," 90 minutes
This documentary about the first ever national debate team from Qatar takes a multi-cultural group of teenagers to London, New York and eventually Washington, D.C., for the World Schools Debating Championship.
Their travels in England include a visit to Oxford Union, which their coach calls "the Wembley of debating."
Listening to these bright, engaging students argue respectfully with one another about social and religious issues, and listening to them just being themselves, offers plenty of reason for optimism about the future of humankind.
The best line comes after a frustrating journey through security at Dulles Airport - no surprise given some of the nations on these kids' passports, but still not a shining example of American efficiency and courtesy.
Says one of them: "This is why 'Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?' is very popular here."
tallg says: Anyone know anything about this film? Anyone seen it? Anyone know anyone who's in it?
Trailer found: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJf0YUlEqII
Equal parts competition movie and cultural examination, Team Qatar follows the first Qatari national debate team and their springy English coach as they train in Doha, London, and New York in preparation for the world championship in DC. Will this vibrant multicultural team handle the pressure and succeed on the world stage?
Critical thinking in action!
Bravo Team Qatar!
If you weren't able to watch it on BBC's website, It's on bittorrent, search for Qatar at TPB.
My wife was telling me they are preparing all the schools in Qatar for debates, Independent, Public, International Schools...
And she was surprised that the girls had no problem arguing for something they find repugnant.
I believe that this year there are more.
The main thing is that Qatar is encouraging its students to participate. In a few years perhaps the team will be fully Qatari :)
LOL, I'd argue the same point for our sports teams.
I won't mind being last, and I don't feel the need to bring expats to represent us internationally.
Mmmm...interesting point bleu. The title 'Team Qatar' does lead you to believe the participants would be from Qatar. Or is it just that they have to be at school/uni in Qatar?
Or perhaps they're just taking a leaf out of the national football and athletics team's books.
The only issue I see about the Qatar Debate Team, is that they're mostly not Qataris (Out of 5 people, they're 10% Qatari).
1- Half-Qatari - Half-Lebanese
1- Syrian
1- Iranian
1- Pakistani
1- Iraqi
My house believes that there should be more Qataris on Team Qatar.
4* in The Times; http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article6268488.ece
Excellent.. Great viewing and natural.. The article was superb too.
thanks
I was too sleepy last night, watched it this morning...
Great documentary, they warned about some swearing, an age rating, but I was so immersed in it that I didn't notice anything.
I will download the media file.
Would a proxy not allow you to watch the recorded version now?
I wasn't able to find one quick enough.
Yes, you can't watch the BBC outside of the UK. Unless you fool it by going via a UK proxy server of course.
I saw the announcement on twitter, tried to watch it live, but it said that it was "not available in your region"
There's a similar message for the recorded version now.
Seems this was on BBC4 in the UK last night. Here's a review from the Guardian;
http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2009/may/12/last-night-tv
Trailer;
Looks good.
@amnesia, this is not twitter :P, I hope you can find the video.
@tallg, not on bittorrent or newsgroups.
If I find a copy, you'll find a file Qatar.Team.2009.DVDRip.Xvid-BLEU somewhere.
I would love to see it too..
@tallg, I have a friend on the debate team, I'll ask if I can get a hold of it for you :)
__________________________
Mr. Q's Blog - A Qatari's view on Qatar.
If it's being shown at Tribeca do you think they'll also show it at the Qatar Tribeca coming up this Autumn?
bleu, I'm sure you can find the torrent somewhere ;) I'll have a look for it tonight.
I'd love to watch that documentary.
I'll also say: Anyone know anything about this film? Anyone seen it? Anyone know anyone who's in it?
It's on IMDB
britfilms
IndieWire
TheNational.ae
Qatar Debate
Tribeca
Anybody have a divx of the movie??
that quote.