Foreign Language Film Finalists

[Hustler]

Turkey, “3 Monkeys,” Nuri Bilge Ceylan, director. His film, Distant, received positive reviews, but his next film, Climates, was like watching paint dry - and I have heard that this new one is no better.

I have seen Climates. IMO is a little gem.

[criddic3]

Well this is one field where the critics awards are meaningless. None of their choices are on the list.

[ITALIANO]

I saw it, but was a bit disappointed. Of course I agree with Moretti's view on Berlusconi, and the movie has its good moments, but on the whole I didn't find it very effective (and even less effective, I guess, for non Italians). Il Divo is a completely different, much better movie, but then its target, Giulio Andreotti, for all his faults, is a politician, and a human being, of a much higher level than Silvio Berlusconi, a true triumph of mediocrity.

[Okri]

Italiano, did you see The Caiman from a couple years ago? If so, what did you think of it?

[ITALIANO]

Il Divo IS a superior movie, and one of the best to have been produced in Italy in these years; but it would have never made the final list. Gomorra definitely has more chances.

[abcinyvr]

I have not heard of the controversy.

Italiano, you must agree that Il Divo is a far superior film. I did not dislike Gomorra, nor would I be disappointed if it received a nomination, but I doubt that those who choose the final short list would choose it.

[ITALIANO]

You shouldn't cross of Gomorra. Controversy could very well pull it INTO the competition when it wouldn't normally be.

But when it DESERVES to be. Trust me, I saw the movie.



Edited By ITALIANO on 1224500357

[abcinyvr]

But as I may have said before, the final image - of the woman outside with the snow falling - was incredibly beautiful. Not worth the wait, mind.

I've always thought about starting a topic about the most memorable/impressive final film image...

[Penelope]

Turkey, “3 Monkeys,” Nuri Bilge Ceylan, director. His film, Distant, received positive reviews, but his next film, Climates, was like watching paint dry - and I have heard that this new one is no better.

I saw Climates last year in Chicago. Trust me, paint drying is far more entertaining.

[OscarGuy]

You shouldn't cross of Gomorra. Controversy could very well pull it INTO the competition when it wouldn't normally be.

[abcinyvr]

Very happy to see Poland is submitting Tricks! I liked it, don't know about the Academy. But I do know what you can cross off.
Turkey, “3 Monkeys,” Nuri Bilge Ceylan, director. His film, Distant, received positive reviews, but his next film, Climates, was like watching paint dry - and I have heard that this new one is no better.
Slovakia, “Blind Loves”. Don't know what this is doing in here, it is considered to be a documentary.
Greece, “Correction”.
Italy, “Gomorra”.

I have seen only a handful of the others but I would Not cross off:
Austria, “Revanche"
Canada, “The Necessities of Life”
France, “The Class”
Iran, “The Song of Sparrows”
Israel, “Waltz with Bashir” (I agree with Sabin)
Jordan, “Captain Abu Raed” (Jordan's first feature film in 50 years)
Korea, “Crossing”
Romania, “The Rest Is Silence”

[Sabin]

'Waltz With Bashir' could mean the first Oscar for Israel.

[OscarGuy]

67 Countries Vying for 2008
Foreign Language Film Oscar®

Beverly Hills, CA — A record 67 countries, including first-time entrant Jordan, have submitted films for consideration in the Foreign Language Film category for the 81st Academy Awards®, Academy President Sid Ganis announced today.

The 2008 submissions are:

Afghanistan, “Opium War,” Siddiq Barmak, director;

Albania, “The Sorrow of Mrs. Schneider,” Piro Milkani and Eno Milkani, directors;

Algeria, “Masquerades,” Lyes Salem, director;

Argentina, “Lion’s Den,” Pablo Trapero, director;

Austria, “Revanche,” Gotz Spielmann, director;

Azerbaijan, “Fortress,” Shamil Nacafzada, director;

Bangladesh, “Aha!,” Enamul Karim Nirjhar, director;

Belgium, “Eldorado,” Bouli Lanners, director;

Bosnia and Herzegovina, “Snow,” Aida Begic, director;

Brazil, “Last Stop 174,” Bruno Barreto, director;

Bulgaria, “Zift,” Javor Gardev, director;

Canada, “The Necessities of Life,” Benoit Pilon, director;

Chile, “Tony Manero,” Pablo Larrain, director;

China, “Dream Weavers,” Jun Gu, director;

Colombia, “Dog Eat Dog,” Carlos Moreno, director;

Croatia, “No One’s Son,” Arsen Anton Ostojic, director;

Czech Republic, “The Karamazovs,” Petr Zelenka, director;

Denmark, “Worlds Apart,” Niels Arden Oplev, director;

Egypt, “The Island,” Sherif Arafa, director;

Estonia, “I Was Here,” Rene Vilbre, director;

Finland, “The Home of Dark Butterflies,” Dome Karukoski, director;

France, “The Class,” Laurent Cantet, director;

Georgia, “Mediator,” Dito Tsintsadze, director;

Germany, “The Baader Meinhof Complex,” Uli Edel, director;

Greece, “Correction,” Thanos Anastopoulos, director;

Hong Kong, “Painted Skin,” Gordon Chan, director;

Hungary, “Iska’s Journey,” Csaba Bollok, director;

Iceland, “White Night Wedding,” Baltasar Kormakur, director;

India, “Taare Zameen Par,” Aamir Khan, director;

Iran, “The Song of Sparrows,” Majid Majidi, director;

Israel, “Waltz with Bashir,” Ari Folman, director;

Italy, “Gomorra,” Matteo Garrone, director;

Japan, “Departures,” Yojiro Takita, director;

Jordan, “Captain Abu Raed,” Amin Matalqa, director;

Kazakhstan, “Tulpan,” Sergey Dvortsevoy, director;

Korea, “Crossing,” Tae-kyun Kim, director;

Kyrgyzstan, “Heavens Blue,” Marie Jaoul de Poncheville, director;

Latvia, “Defenders of Riga,” Aigars Grauba, director;

Lebanon, “Under the Bombs,” Philippe Aractingi, director;

Lithuania, “Loss,” Maris Martinsons, director;

Luxembourg, “Nuits d’Arabie,” Paul Kieffer, director;

Macedonia, “I’m from Titov Veles,” Teona Strugar Mitevska, director;

Mexico, “Tear This Heart Out,” Roberto Sneider, director;

Morocco, “Goodbye Mothers,” Mohamed Ismail, director;

The Netherlands, “Dunya & Desie,” Dana Nechushtan, director;

Norway, “O’Horten,” Bent Hamer, director;

Palestine, “Salt of This Sea” Annemarie Jacir, director;

Philippines, “Ploning,” Dante Nico Garcia, director;

Poland, “Tricks,” Andrzej Jakimowski, director;

Portugal, “Our Beloved Month of August,” Miguel Gomes, director;

Romania, “The Rest Is Silence,” Nae Caranfil, director;

Russia, “Mermaid,” Anna Melikyan, director;

Serbia, “The Tour,” Goran Markovic, director;

Singapore, “My Magic,” Eric Khoo, director;

Slovakia, “Blind Loves,” Juraj Lehotsky, director;

Slovenia, “Rooster’s Breakfast,” Marko Nabersnik, director;

South Africa, “Jerusalema,” Ralph Ziman, director;

Spain, “The Blind Sunflowers,” Jose Luis Cuerda, director;

Sweden, “Everlasting Moments,” Jan Troell, director;

Switzerland, “The Friend,” Micha Lewinsky, director;

Taiwan, “Cape No. 7,” Te-Sheng Wei, director;

Thailand, “Love of Siam,” Chookiat Sakveerakul, director;

Turkey, “3 Monkeys,” Nuri Bilge Ceylan, director;

Ukraine, “Illusion of Fear,” Aleksandr Kiriyenko, director;

United Kingdom, “Hope Eternal,” Karl Francis, director;

Uruguay, “Kill Them All,” Esteban Schroeder, director;

Venezuela, “The Color of Fame,” Alejandro Bellame Palacios, director.

Nominations for the 81st Academy Awards will be announced on Thursday, January 22, 2009, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2008 will be presented on Sunday, February 22, 2009, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.