Bad News Bears

The WOA center hosted the Special Showing of the classical American comedy “Bad News Bears” (1976).
The movie was presented by Mr. Daniel Cisek, Deputy Press Attaché (US Embassy). Mr. Cisek introduced the audience to the plot of the movie which deals with the “national pastime” of America – the baseball game.
Mr. Cisek added that the film was a favorite for several generations of American kids because it referred not only to sport, but to the notion of “participation” which is an important feature of the American way of life.
The film is about an aging, down-on-his-luck ex-minor leaguer who coaches a team of misfits in an ultra-competitive California little league. Shunned by the more competitive teams (and competitive parents), the Bears are the outsiders. Realizing the team is nearly hopeless, the coach recruits a couple of unlikely prospects: a sharp-tongued and skilled girl-pitcher and a bike-riding trouble-maker. With them on board, the team starts gaining more confidence, and the Bears start winning games.
After the movie showing we had a discussion with Mr. Cisek. He was asked to explain certain scenes and jokes which were hard to understand for the Ukrainian spectators. A true product of the mid-70s, the film includes several scenes that would most likely no longer be allowed in a PG-rated film today. Most of the questionable dialogue was used for comic effect. The Ukrainian audience commented on the things that they particularly liked about the movie. Some people were struck by the relevant use of classical European music from the opera “Carmen” by Georges Bizet. Others were charmed by the children acting in the movie. For better cross-cultural understanding the spectators suggested to our American guest to watch some classical Russian-speaking comedies about the competitiveness in sports.
The event was quite educational and provided the Ukrainian audience with some insight into the American culture.
Have a look at more pictures, please

Soundtracks
"Carmen"
Written by Georges Bizet
The Bad News Bears is a 1976 comedy film directed by Michael Ritchie. It stars Walter Matthau and Tatum O'Neal.
A city councilman and attorney filed a lawsuit against an ultra-competitive Southern California Little League which excluded the least skilled athletes (including his son) from playing. In order to settle the lawsuit, the league agrees to add an additional team - the Bears - which is composed of the worst players.
Mr.Buttermaker ,an alcoholic and former minor-league baseball player, becomes the coach of the unlikely team, which includes (among others) a near-sighted pitcher, an overweight catcher, a foulmouthed shortstop with a Napoleon complex, an outfielder who dreams of emulating his idol Hank Aaron, and a motley collection of other "talent".
winning games.

The Bad News Bears was filmed in and around Los Angeles, primarily in the San Fernando Valley. The field where they played is in Mason Park on Mason Avenue in Chatsworth, California. In the film, the Bears were sponsored by an actual company, "Chico's Bail Bonds." One scene was filmed in the council chamber at Los Angeles City Hall.
The film was notable in its time for the amount of vulgarity (including profanity and ethnic slurs) placed into the mouths of the various child actors who played the principal roles .Most of the questionable dialogue was used for comic effect.
A true product of the mid-70s, it includes several scenes that would most likely no longer be allowed in a PG-rated film today.
In his 1976 review, critic Roger Ebert called the film "an unblinking, scathing look at competition in American society."
The film inspired two sequels, The Bad News Bears in Breaking Training and The Bad News Bears Go to Japan, a TV series, and a 2005 remake.