Let’s All Hate-Watch United Passions Together
Watch the FIFA propaganda film while you listen to commentary from Slate’s Hang Up and Listen podcast.
In this special, members-only edition of Slate’s sports podcast Hang Up and Listen, Stefan Fatsis, Josh Levin, and Mike Pesca record a commentary track for one of the lowest-grossing movies in American cinema history—the FIFA propaganda film United Passions.
This podcast is meant to be played while watching United Passions. First, grab a copy of the movie, which is now available on Amazon, iTunes, or Google. Once you have United Passions queued up and ready to go, start listening to the podcast and listen for instructions on how to sync up the audio and video.
Become a fan of Hang Up and Listen and join the discussion of this episode on Facebook here:
Here are links to some of the articles and other items mentioned on the show:
- Watch the United Passions trailer.
- The film raked in a reported $607 in U.S. theaters on opening weekend.
- The Guardian’s Jordan Hoffman critiques the movie, calling it “pure cinematic excrement.”
- SB Nation’s Andi Thomas points out the FIFA propaganda in United Passions. The international soccer organization paid $26 million to make the film.
- Deadspin’s Tim Marchman reviews United Passions.
- United Passions director Frédéric Auburtin responds to questions about the making of his highly criticized movie.
- Auburtin openly called the film a “disaster.”
- FIFA President Sepp Blatter thought Abby Wambach’s wife was Brazilian player Marta.
- At the 2014 World Cup, the display of a 1934 German jersey with a swastika prompted complaints from visitors.
- Andrew Jennings, the author of Foul!: The Secret World of FIFA, had been investigating the organization for years before the arrests of top officials in late May.
- Gérard Depardieu, who plays Jules Rimet, left his native France for tax purposes. In 2013, he became a citizen of Russia.
- The Wall Street Journal on what Blatter learned from his predecessor João Havelange.
- One dedicated fan has compiled 353 United Passions screen captures of Jemima West, the actress who plays Rimet’s daughter in the film.
- Parker Stevenson, not Fisher Stevens, was married to Kirstie Alley.
Podcast production by Mike Vuolo and Joel Meyer. Links compiled by Emma Zehner.