• 65 countries battle for the foreign-language Oscar

    by: Wilhem Oliva
    October 15th, 2009

    Academy_Award-630

    Every year I consider myself a very knowledgeable movie guy, and every year I learn something new that makes me feel like an idiot. For some reason, I always figured that when the Academy was making the list for the Best Foreign-language Film category, they were choosing from 10 or 20 prestigious movies and countries. Boy, was I off!

    This year, there are a jaw-dropping 65 countries in the running, ranging from Germany to Sri Lanka and everywhere in between. Unfortunately, the chances that the average American viewer has gotten to see any of these movies is pretty slim, so I can’t predict winners based on quality. Instead, I suggest rooting for your favorite countries in the meantime! I’m definitely not cheering for Brazil since they already have the Olympics. Read on to see the full list of movies and countries.

    Albania, “Alive!,” Artan Minarolli, director;
    Argentina, “El Secreto de Sus Ojos,” Juan Jose Campanella
    Armenia, “Autumn of the Magician,” Rouben Kevorkov and Vaheh Kevorkov
    Australia, “Samson & Delilah,” Warwick Thornton
    Austria, “For a Moment Freedom,” Arash T. Riahi
    Bangladesh, “Beyond the Circle,” Golam Rabbany Biplob
    Belgium, “The Misfortunates,” Felix van Groeningen
    Bolivia, “Zona Sur,” Juan Carlos Valdivia
    Bosnia and Herzegovina, “Nightguards,” Namik Kabil
    Brazil, “Time of Fear,” Sergio Rezende
    Bulgaria, “The World Is Big and Salvation Lurks around the Corner,” Stephan Komandarev
    Canada, “I Killed My Mother,” Xavier Dolan
    Chile, “Dawson, Isla 10,” Miguel Littin
    China, “Forever Enthralled,” Chen Kaige
    Colombia, “The Wind Journeys,” Ciro Guerra
    Croatia, “Donkey,” Antonio Nuic
    Cuba, “Fallen Gods,” Ernesto Daranas
    Czech Republic, “Protektor,” Marek Najbrt
    Denmark, “Terribly Happy,” Henrik Ruben Genz
    Estonia, “December Heat,” Asko Kase
    Finland, “Letters to Father Jacob,” Klaus Haro
    France, “A Prophet,” Jacques Audiard
    Georgia, “The Other Bank,” George Ovashvili
    Germany, “The White Ribbon,” Michael Haneke
    Greece, “Slaves in Their Bonds,” Tony Lykouressis
    Hong Kong, “Prince of Tears,” Yonfan
    Hungary, “Chameleon,” Krisztina Goda
    Iceland, “Reykjavik-Rotterdam,” Oskar Jonasson
    India, “Harishchandrachi Factory,” Paresh Mokashi
    Indonesia, “Jamila and the President,” Ratna Sarumpaet;
    Iran, “About Elly,” Asghar Farhadi
    Israel, “Ajami,” Scandar Copti and Yaron Shani
    Italy, “Baaria,” Giuseppe Tornatore
    Japan, “Nobody to Watch Over Me,” Ryoichi Kimizuka
    Kazakhstan, “Kelin,” Ermek Tursunov
    Korea, “Mother,” Joon-ho Bong
    Lithuania, “Vortex,” Gytis Luksas
    Luxembourg, “Refractaire,” Nicolas Steil
    Macedonia, “Wingless,” Ivo Trajkov
    Mexico, “Backyard,” Carlos Carrera
    Morocco, “Casanegra,” Nour-Eddine Lakhmari
    The Netherlands, “Winter in Wartime,” Martin Koolhoven
    Norway, “Max Manus,” Espen Sandberg and Joachim Roenning
    Peru, “The Milk of Sorrow,” Claudia Llosa
    Philippines, “Grandpa Is Dead,” Soxie H. Topacio
    Poland, “Reverse,” Borys Lankosz
    Portugal, “Doomed Love,” Mario Barroso
    Puerto Rico, “Kabo and Platon,” Edmundo H. Rodriguez
    Romania, “Police, Adjective,” Corneliu Porumboiu
    Russia, “Ward No. 6,” Karen Shakhnazarov
    Serbia, “St. George Shoots the Dragon,” Srdjan Dragojevic
    Slovakia, “Broken Promise,” Jiri Chlumsky
    Slovenia, “Landscape No. 2,” Vinko Moderndorfer
    South Africa, “White Wedding,” Jann Turner
    Spain, “The Dancer and the Thief,” Fernando Trueba
    Sri Lanka, “The Road from Elephant Pass,” Chandran Rutnam
    Sweden, “Involuntary,” Ruben Ostlund
    Switzerland, “Home,” Ursula Meier
    Taiwan, “No Puedo Vivir sin Ti,” Leon Dai
    Thailand, “Best of Times,” Yongyoot Thongkongtoon
    Turkey, “I Saw the Sun,” Mahsun Kirmizigul
    U.K., “Afghan Star,” Havana Marking
    Uruguay, “Bad Day for Fishing,” Alvaro Brechner
    Venezuela, “Libertador Morales, El Justiciero,” Efterpi Charalambidis
    Vietnam, “Don’t Burn It,” Dang Nhat Minh

    Source Hollywood Reporter

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