Numerous potential Oscar Foreign Language movies advanced in the race for the winning position, but now the list has been narrowed down to only nine titles. The struggle in the foreign section is, of course, more offering and more difficult to narrow down at the same time, but the initial number of eighty-three countries and associated movies was now reduced to a shortlist which includes almost ten potential award winners. The Oscar Foreign Language Movie Award might go to countries like Poland, Russia, Sweden, Argentina, Venezuela and even Mauritania.
As any Oscar maybe-list, the foreign language one triggered expected or unexpected reactions amid movie-goers, classifications or reclassifications of the participant titles. Poland’s Ida is one of the most discussed about movie in the list and it seems to have great chances at leaving the festivities as recipient. Pawel Pawlikowski, director and co-writer of the drama movie, centers his work on the life-changing decision of a training nun. The lead female, Anna, is played by Agata Trzebuchowska and in a 1960s Poland context a dark family secret connects her with the period of the Nazi occupation. Another favorite contender is the Russian drama Leviathan, directed and co-written by Andrey Zvyagintsev. The film brings into focus the Russian corruption in a coastal town and the destiny of those trying to fight it. Another controversial title is Mauritania’s Timbuktu. Abderrahmane Sissako is the director behind the militant Islamic rebels based picture. The shortlist mentioned name is the first-ever submission of the African country and Deadline wrote about the reaction of Sissako: ‘’were Timbuktu to make the shortlist it would be important ‘’for everyone behind it.” That includes not only the country, but all of Africa. Should Timbuktu advance further, he said the whole continent would be watching the Oscars.’’
The Oscar Foreign Language shortlist brings into focus nine strong-plotted productions, which not only promise a great movie accompanied by devoted actors, but hint at nine different cultural system values and ways of reporting to different life contexts.
Oscar Foreign Language Movies Shortlist:
Argentina – Wild Tales
Estonia – Tangerines
Georgia – Corn Island
Mauritania – Timbuktu
Netherlands – Accused
Poland – Ida
Russia – Leviathan
Sweden – Force Majeure
Venezuela – The Liberator