And the Oscar Doesn't Go To... article
Bikas Mishra writes about some of the greatest "foreign" films of the year which won't win foreign category Oscar.
If you think that the films nominated for the foreign category Oscars are the best of the world, you’re wrong. Some of the greatest films of this year didn’t even make it to the nominations. Reasons: some weren’t simply sent by their country as their official entry while others were disqualified for various reasons. Here are some of the greatest films of the year which won't win foreign films Oscar.
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days: Palm d'or winner at Cannes 2007, this Romanian film narrates the story of a young woman who assists her friend to arrange an illegal abortion in 1980's Romania.
Persopolis: Based on the graphic novel of Marjane Satrapi, film narrates the years following the Islamic revolution in Iran from the perspective of the author. The film won jury prize at Cannes and was also nominated for Palme d'Or.
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: Based on the true story of Elle editor Jean-Dominique Bauby-- who suffers a stroke and has to live with an almost totally paralyzed body; only his left eye isn't paralyzed--the film wasn't sent as official entry of France. The film has won best director's award at Cannes and has been nominated in this category at Oscars.
Se Jie: (Lust Caution): The latest film from Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain) couldn't qualify for the best foreign film as academy felt it's not a foreign film. The winner of the Golden Lion at Venice, this film was Taiwan's first choice for official entry but was returned by the academy with the remarks "creative talent of that country exercised artistic control of the film".
Taiwan had to drop Lust, Caution and send Island Etude as its official entry and their new entry didn't' even get nominated.
The arbitrariness of the Academy's decision raised severe criticism and James Schamus, the executive producer and co-writer of Lust, Caution went on record to criticize the academy for disqualifying his film. "I dare you to tell me how Lust, Caution is not eligible while (Ang Lee's 2000 film) Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon not only was eligible but also won as the best Foreign Film. It is almost the exact same situation: We shot them in China, with almost the exact same crew. The whole thing is patently absurd."
Band's Visit : Language was the reason why Israel's first entry this year was disqualified. The Band's Visit that won special jury mention at Cannes, was returned because academy felt that there was too much of English used in the film!
The Kite Runner: the film was produced by a Hollywood studio, directed by Marc Forster, who was born in Germany, grew up in Switzerland and studied and lived in the USA. Even his film speaks five languages: English, Dari, Pashtu, Urdu and Russian. Only countries can send their entries for foreign category Oscars and film wasn't sent by any.
