Categories
Awards Season

84th Academy Awards: Foreign Language Film

Including Bullhead, Footnote, In Darkness, Monsieur Lazhar and A Separation

NOMINEES

The foreign language category has been the subject of much debate in recent years.

In particular, critics have wondered why some of the most acclaimed films in world cinema have been repeatedly snubbed and there seems to be confusion about the selection process.

Stephen Galloway and Kim Masters of The Hollywood Reporter sat down with Mark Johnson, Chairman of the Academyā€™s foreign language film selection committee, for a wide-ranging discussion about the process.

BULLHEADĀ (Belgium) inĀ DutchĀ andĀ FrenchĀ (Dir.Ā MichaĆ«l R. Roskam)

A drama Ā about aĀ LimburgishĀ cattle farmer (Matthias Schoenaerts) who is approached by an unscrupulous veterinarian to make a shady deal with a notorious West-Flemish beef trader.


RUNDSKOP (BULLHEAD) trailer HD 720p english… by myfilm-gr

The film was selected for 61st Berlin International Film FestivalĀ andĀ Drafthouse FilmsĀ will release it on February 17th in limited release (UK release is TBC). It has won several festival awards at AFI Fest,Ā Fantastic Fest,Ā Palm Springs International Film FestivalĀ and the Magritte Awards.

FOOTNOTEĀ (Israel) inĀ HebrewĀ (Dir.Ā Joseph Cedar)

Drama exploring the power struggle betweenĀ a father and son who teach at theĀ TalmudĀ department of theĀ Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

ItĀ premiered in competition at theĀ 2011 Cannes Film FestivalĀ and won theĀ Best Screenplay Award.Ā North American distribution rights for the film were acquired byĀ Sony Pictures Classics.

Director Joseph Cedar spoke to David Poland here. [32 mins]

IN DARKNESSĀ (Poland) inĀ PolishĀ (Dir. Agnieszka Holland)

Holocaust drama based on the true story of Polish Jews inĀ Nazi-occupied Lvov, who inhabit the city’s sewers in order to survive.

It began its North American festival run at Telluride and Toronto and Sony Classics will release in the US.

Find out more at theĀ official website,Ā IMDbĀ and David Poland has interviewed Holland for his DP/30 series (31 mins).

MONSIEUR LAZHARĀ (Canada) inĀ FrenchĀ (Dir.Ā Philippe Falardeau)

Drama set in Montreal about an Algerian who takes over a class after a tragedy whilst experiencing difficulties of his own.

It won the Best Canadian Feature Film award at theĀ 2011 Toronto International Film FestivalĀ is is a shortlisted nominee forĀ Best PictureĀ at theĀ 2012 Genie Awards.

You can watch Phillipe Falardeau speak with TSO (15 mins) and Strombo (15 mins).

A SEPARATIONĀ (Iran) inĀ PersianĀ (Dir.Ā Asghar Farhadi)

Iranian dramaĀ about a middle-class couple who separate, and the resulting complications which follow when the husband hires a caretaker for his elderly father.

It won theĀ Golden BearĀ for Best Film and the Silver Bears forĀ Best ActressĀ andĀ Best ActorĀ at theĀ 61st Berlin International Film Festival, becoming the first Iranian film to scoop top prize there.

Director Ashgar Farhadi has spoken to David Poland for his DP/30 series [37 mins]

>Ā Official Oscar site
>Ā Explore previous winners and nominees of Best Foreign Language Film at Wikipedia