* 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!
Slovenia to Venezuela
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
SPARE PARTS
dir. Damjan Kozole
18 noms. 3 wins.
SOLDIERS OF SALAMINA
dir. David Trueba
never nominated
MANSION BY THE LAKE / Wekande Walauwa
dir. Lester James Peries
(Official Site)
3 noms. 1 win.
GOODBYE DRAGON INN / Bu Jian Bu San
dir. Tsai Ming-Liang
? min (?)
Starring:
?
Premise:
A grim film about "people smugglers" who aid illegal immigrants in getting to Italy, via Slovenia.
Other notes:
tba
Previous Awards:
tba
AMPAS Reaction:
Mixed to positive but not particularly enthusiastic.
Not selected:
Sour Cream and Marmalade , Ruins is a Slovenian film in cinemascope, Slovenia the Promised Land which is also apparently referred to as (Sunny Side Up) and Unrest
112 min (Spanish)
Starring:
Y Tu Mama Tambien's Diego Luna and Belle Epoque's Ariadna Gil as well as Joan Dalmau
Premise:
The story of a novelist investigating a real life political execution.
Other notes:
tba
Previous Awards:
Nominated for 8 Goya Awards
AMPAS Reaction:
Respected but, maybe, not loved enough for shortlisting.
Not Selected:
Al Sur De Granada by Fernanda Colomo a period comedy of sorts and Hotel Danubio by Antonio Rico
106 min (?)
Starring:
Malini Fonseka, Wasanthi Chathurani, Sanath Gunatillake
Premise:
Inspired by Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard this film is about a former wealthy family
Other notes:
tba
Previous Awards:
tba
AMPAS Reaction:
Mixed to negative.Details:
114 min (Swedish/Finnish)
Starring:
Starring the exceedingly handsome Andreas Wilson, Henrik Lundström, Gustaf Skarsgard, Jesper Salén
Premise:
Appears to be a dark coming of age, boys school, type of film.
Other notes:
based on a much beloved book.
Previous Awards:
tba
AMPAS Reaction:
Positive. Well told and acted. But violent (which is a turn off for some)Not Selected:
The big Swedish hit Kopps, from the makers of the recent submission Jalla!Jalla! and the love story Miffo.Details:
82 min (Mandarin/Taiwanese)
Starring:
Lee Kang-Sheng
Chen Shiang-Chyi, Miao Tian, Shi Jun
Premise:
The decay of an old movie theater and its last denizens.
Other notes:
tba
Previous Awards:
FIPRESCI at Venice, Golden Plaque at Chicago International Festival.
AMPAS Reaction:
Tsai Ming-Liang isn't their thing. Too non narrative and challenging with it's lack of inactivity.
never nom'ed
DISTANT / UZAK
dir. Nuri Bilge Ceylan
never nominated
MAMAY
dir. Oles Sanin
1 nom. o wins.
SEAWARDS JOURNEY / El Viaje Hacia Al Mar
dir. Guillermo Casanova
(Official Site)
never nom'ed
SANGRADOR
dir. Leonardo Henriquez
112 min (Thai/Japanese/ English)
Starring:
Tadanobu Asano, Takasha Miike
Premise:
The tale of two opposite souls thrown together: a sucidial Japanese man and a carefree Thai woman.
Other notes:
This director was submitted last year as well with Monrak Transistor.
Previous Awards:
Best Actor "Upstream Prize" at Venice
AMPAS Reaction:
The Academy did not respond to Monrak Transistor but this may have gone over better and could place. Although they are historically unmoved to nominate black comedies.
Not selected:
Ong-Bak a martial arts film. One Night Husband a dramatic thriller
109 min (Turkish)
Starring:
Muzzaffer Ozdemir, Emin Toprak, Zuhal Gencer Erkaya
Premise:
No one speaks of the plot so I assume it's more of an existential drama (?) centering on two men.
Other notes:
Obviously one of the international critical triumphs of the year. But that does not mean an Oscar nomination is coming.
Previous Awards:
They're piling up -prizes in Turkey and at the festivals in Istanbul, San Sebastian, and Cannes
AMPAS Reaction:
Mixed to very positive. Has fans certainly, but could be too subtle for Academy voters.
? min (?)
Starring:
?
Premise:
?
Other notes:
tba
Previous Awards:
tba
AMPAS Reaction:
Not enthusiastic save for its visual strengths apparently.
? min (Spanish)
Starring:
Hugo Arana, Diego Delgrossi, Julio Cesar Castro
Premise:
A group of travel together to the seaside.
Other notes:
A debut film for the director.
Previous Awards:
tba
AMPAS Reaction:
Mildly positive.
Not selected :
Celosias, which won a major prize at Montevideo FestivalIMDB says this film is from 1999 and calls it "Macbeth-Sangrador" I guess it took a while to find release. It's the story of bandits performing their own Macbeth. In black and white.
AMPAS Reaction:
Negative.
Not Selected:
Punto Y RayaAfghanistan 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 )
