* Each year that I do this... my sources and readers from other countries are invaluable to my preparation *
"Thank You"s for the 2003 film year foreign news go out to: Anthony, Boris, Brian, Chris, Enrique, Fede, Giovanni, Grace, Irvin, Ken, Kevin, Krister, Jaime, José, Manolis, Marco, Mikkel, Ortzi, Patrick, Pedro, Sina, Tony, Vitor & Yonatan (so far) If you have info that's not yet included here feel free to write!
Afghanistan to Czech Republic
The following info is culled from the internet, private research, foreign film sites, and forwarded info from readers. The Academy reaction is based on hearsay, actual conversation, and then wild speculation. Awards races always have surprises so take everything with a grain of salt.
KEY GREEN = LOCK for a nomination / YELLOW = A DECENT SHOT at shortlisting / RED = DEBATABLE prospects but probably not / BLUE = DOUBTFUL -not going to happen
never nominated
OSAMA
dir. Siddiq Barmak
5 noms. 1 win.
VALENTIN
dir. Alejandro Agresti
never nominated
VODKA LEMON
dir.
1 nom. 0 wins.
BOSE ZELLEN / FREE RADICALS
dir. Barbara Alpert
? min (?)
Starring:
?
Premise:
Not about the infamous terrorist but rather the plight of a 12 year old girl under the Taliban regime.
Other notes:
The film is said to be "visually ravishing" (which often helps with Oscar's committee) and after Cannes was purchased by MGM/UA for stateside release.
Previous Awards:
?
AMPAS Reaction:
Positive. Viewed as "important"
? min (?)
Starring:
Carmen Maura (Yay!)
Premise:
It's the story of a young boy and grandmother (a foreign film Oscar staple?) in the turbulent 60s.
Other notes:
?
Previous Awards:
?
AMPAS Reaction:
Very positive. They love movies about cute little kids.
Finalists:
Cleopatra and El Fondo del Mar.
? min (?)
Starring:
?
Premise:
?
Other notes:
?
Previous Awards:
?
AMPAS Reaction:
tba
? min (?)
Starring:
?
Premise:
The film is about a Brazilian living in Austria after a freak tornado leaves her an only survivor. The film is about the ways in which people accept and deal with destiny.
Other notes:
Alpert has been a previously submitted director for Austria
Previous Awards:
An.
AMPAS Reaction:
Decidely mixed.
Not Selected:
The latest from Haneke Le Temps du Loup which didn't generate Piano Teacher style raves.
5 noms. 0 wins.
SEA OF SILENCE
dir. Stijn Coninx
never nominated
SEXUAL DEPENDENCY
dir. Rodrigo Bellott
1 nom. 1 win.
FUSE / GORI VATRA
dir. Pjer Zalica
4 noms. 0 wins.
CARANDIRU
dir. Hector Babenco
? min (?)
Starring:
?
Premise:
a family drama about a binge drinking father and his five young children.
Other notes:
This director was nominated some 10 years back with Daens.
Previous Awards:
An.
AMPAS Reaction:
Mixed. Probably not strong / memorable enough as a stand alone to make the list.
Not Selected
Anyway the Wind Blows -multi-character collage, Feathers in My Head -Thomas de Thier, Jeux D'Enfants -Yann Samuell, Karaoke -about immigrants in Brussels
105 min (?)
Starring:
?
Premise:
A multi narrative/character film (a la Altman-esque) in two settings: Bolivia and America.
Other notes:
Shot entirely in split screen (?!?) Or so I hear. The director is a only 25 years old.
Previous Awards:
International Critics Prize Locarno
AMPAS Reaction:
Mixed reaction. Some people will really like it's split screen storytelling. Others will not respond -too harsh (read: sexual) and experimental.
? min (?)
Starring:
?
Premise:
This black comedy is about an obscure town thrown into chaos by the arrival of President Clinton.
Other notes:
?
Previous Awards:
?
AMPAS Reaction:
Mixed. Too ethnocentrically political apparently to transcend and reach an American audience.
Not Selected:
Loving Glances an absurdist love story, Remake the story of a Bosnian writer in a Serb camp and, finally, Summer in Golden Valley, concerning the "new generation of Bosnians"
148 min (?)
Starring:
Rodrigo Santoro
Premise:
Directed by Oscar nominee Hector Babenco (of Kiss of the Spider woman fame ) the film is set in Brazil's largest prison.
Other notes:
It seems like an obvious contender but its violence (like City of God last year) could mute the reaction of the AMPAS committee.
Previous Awards:
An.
AMPAS Reaction:
Positive but possibly too violent for the shortlist.
Finalists:
The films considered were : Desmundo Alain Fresnot, O homem que copiava Jorge Furtado, Deus ˇ brasileiro Cac‡ Diegues, Lara Ana Maria Magalh‹es, Durval Disc os Anna Muylaert, Dois perdidos numa noite suja Josˇ Jofilly, Capital do medo Manoel Carlos, and Caminho das nuvens Vicente Amorim
never nominated
JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM
dir. Ivan Nichev
2 noms. 0 wins
BARBARIAN INVASIONS
dir. Denys Arcand
never nominated
LOS DEBUTANTES
dir Andres Waissbluth
2 noms. 0 wins
WARRIORS OF HEAVEN AND EARTH
dir. He Ping
? min (Bulgarian)
Starring:
Elena Petrova, Alexander Morfov, Hristo Gurbov
Premise:
World War II story of Bulgarians helping Jewish prisoners to escape from the Nazis.
Other notes:
?
Previous Awards:
?
AMPAS Reaction:
Despite the subject matter (usually a favorite topic) they reportedly did not respond to it.
Not Selected:
Immigrants which tells the story of a group of unemployed friends.Details:
? min (?)
Starring:
Marie Josee-Croze,
Premise:
a follow-up to Le Dˇclin de l'Empire Amˇricain, which was a foreign film nominee in '87, promises to be an international success.
Other notes:
?
Previous Awards:
NBR -Foreign Film of the Year, EURO nominee -Film of the year
AMPAS Reaction:
A nomination in this category is highly probable... at this point it's the most high profile contender. And the film, particularly if you can relate, is moving. The Academy probably can relate. No reason why it shouldn't make the final five.Details:
? min (?)
Starring:
Antonella Rios
Premise:
Two poor young adult brothers move to the city and become involved in the prostitution business.
Other notes:
?
Previous Awards:
?
AMPAS Reaction:
Divisive. Every once in a while the Academy goes for the risque in this category (this film would apparently be an NC-17 if the MPAA got a hold of it) but it's not a frequent thing on their parts.
Not Selected:
Sex With Love/Sexo Con Amor and B-Happy.
? min (?)
Starring:
Jiang Wen, Nakai Klichi, Zhao Wei, Wang Xueqi
Premise:
An epic from the Tang Dynasty period. Two enemies forge an unlikely alliance in the Desert.
Other notes:
?
Previous Awards:
?
AMPAS Reaction:
Mixed. Has the size and production values to impress but not necessarily a heartwarmer.
Not Selected:
Purple Butterfly
went the Cannes route for exposure. There's also Gong Li's much ballyhooed return which will be in Zhou Yu's Train I imagine there's many other contenders though.
never nominated
THE FIRST NIGHT
dir. Luis Alberto Restrepo
never nominated
SVJEDOCI / WITNESSES
dir. Vinko Bressan
1 nom. 0 wins
SUITE HABANA
dir. Fernando Perez
Details:
? min (?)
Starring:
?
Premise:
A family with two small children is forced to live on the streets while trying to survive a rebellion.
Other notes:
?
Previous Awards:
?
AMPAS Reaction:
Not enthusiastic.
Not selected:
Haven't a clue here though I have heard the titles Te Busco
(romantic comedy) and Malamor (drama) bandied about.
? min (?)
Starring:
?
Premise:
A young girl witnesses her father's murder. The truth about the crime gradually unfolds as the audience sees it from different perspectives repeatedly.
Other notes:
Takes place in the early 1990s.
Previous Awards:
An award at Motovun.
AMPAS Reaction:
Mixed. Considered to be "well crafted" -respected but maybe not enough of a response to make the list.
Not Selected: The official competitor was Under the Line by Petar Krelja. Other films not selected were Here the director has been twice selected to represent Croatia in Oscar submission and
The One Who Will Stay Unnoticed.
Details:
? min (?)
Starring:
?
Premise:
One single day in the lives of a collection of Havana residents.
Other notes:
?
Previous Awards:
?
AMPAS Reaction:
Mixed to negative. Again, AMPAS is very traditional in what they go for and this one is experimental without much of a plot.
Not Selected:
Aunque Estes Lejos/So Far Away
from the director of Cuba's only nominee Strawberry and Chocolate.
150 min (Czechoslovakian)
Premise:
WW II era story again (such a common thing for Oscar submissions in this category) about a young city woman living in a small village
Other notes:
The Czech Republic has been doing well for itself with the Academy for the past couple of decades. We'll see how this one goes.
Previous Awards:
?
AMPAS Reaction:
Very positive.
Not selected:
The Devil Knows Why -Roman Vavra, a sort of fairy tale, Forest Walkers -Lesni Chodci, a political film, Small Town -Jan KrausAfghanistan to Czech Republic
Denmark to Korea
Lebanon to Slovakia
Slovenia to Venezuela
( OR WERE SUPPOSED TO SUBMIT BUT DIDN'T END UP ON THE LIST )
