Best Foreign Language Film wrap-up

by Brian Whisenant
(AwardsWiz.com)

The early road to this year’s Academy Awards wasn’t the most exciting for me, I have to admit. As the projected winners began to fall into place in the past couple of months, I wasn’t as excited as usual. And even after the nominations were announced, and “Hugo” and “Moneyball” which had landed first and second place in my Top Ten Films of 2011 received Best Picture nods (in addition to other exciting nominees in other categories such as Rooney Mara and “A Separation” for Screenplay) I still didn’t feel the passion I had felt in years past at this time, especially last year. Even with “The Artist” presumably winning the Best Picture prize, over my beloved “Hugo” I know the film’s 2 or 3 top wins (the 3rd being for Dujardin) won’t result in repeat post show dramatics by yours truly on par of the “throwing my glass at the televisions when “Pulp Fiction” was robbed” or “crying in the bathroom on the phone to my best friend when “Brokeback Mountain” lost” incidents. My good friend Rick (and fellow writer on my site Awards Wiz) said to me at a recent screening, that I seemed to be “creating” personal buzz with faux anger at Dujardin possibly beating Clooney. Sure, I was underwhelmed by “The Artist.” But a Dujardin win, in reality, probably won’t send me to the roof of my building, debating jump or not to jump. (On that note, I am rewatching “The Artist” tonight, just as I did “The Kings Speech” last year…to prove to myself that it isn’t the worst film in the world…just one I don’t really want to win…or maybe even one I misjudged.)

One thing you may or may not know about me, is that every year (at least for the last 3 since writing for Awards Daily gave me the ability to obtain press credentials) I see every nominated film. That’s EVERY one. All the docs, foreign films, animateds, shorts…the “below the line” nominees as well. Just last night I watched “Reel Steal,” one that I had put off for weeks. And believe it or not…I enjoyed it! Perhaps because it was a needed break that was bookended by “Hell and Back Again” and some other gut wrenching film I can’t remember. Why do I watch them all? Well, for one thing it’s a great bragging point at my Oscar party…but the real reason is to be as informed as possible about the Academy and their awards. That first year when I was able to see all the films I discovered some true gems. I loved “Milk of Sorrow,” a very unique nominee for foreign film that made it on my top 10 list as well as “The Secret of Kells.” Possibly discovering those gems this year was the catalyst for keeping my dream of enjoying the final and most important scene in this year’s awards race alive. And indeed that has been the case. I loved “If a Tree Falls” nominated for Best Doc (as I have loved all of Marshall Curry’s documentaries), “A Cat in Paris” and “Chico and Rita.” But the true discoveries came in the foreign film category.

First and foremost we have “A Separation.” I saw it last month after having already posted my top 10 and immediately considered altering it. From the opening scene, I was absolutely hooked into the story line. It’s one of those films that is so expertly written, acted and directed that it seems as if we are seeing a (and I know I use this term a lot) slice of these people’s lives. I was so happy the Academy recognized the screenplay…and wish they had given it a supporting actress and picture nom as well. If you don’t know…it begins with it’s lead characters played by Peyman Maadi and Leila Hatami at a “hearing” of sorts, with Simin (Hatami) trying to convince the “judge” to allow her a divorce without her husband’s consent so she can leave Iran, hopefully taking her daughter with her. She seems to still care about her husband, but he won’t go because his ill father cannot leave Iran. At least that’s the reason he gives. There are so many layers to the film. I also saw a man who didn’t want to leave his homeland, no matter what, due to his nationalistic pride. When the husband hires Razieh (played by award worthy Sareh Bayat) to take care of his Dad, now that his wife has moved out, the layers continue. Something tragic occurs that brings more conflict to the table involving Razieh…and brings husband and wife together, but not TOGETHER together as might have happened in lesser hands (meaning screenwriter and director Asghar Farhadi). We, outside of Iran, truly get to see the workings of an unfamiliar country in almost every aspect of this film. From the way a couple deals with separation. The way their court system works, and most fascinating, how different families deal with “payback.” This is the strongest of the bunch, and will probably win.

That being said, “Monsieur Lazhar” is a very close second for me. And right after seeing it, I might have even voted for it. (On that note…one thing people don’t always think about…I saw “Lazhar” and “In Darkness” at Academy screenings. Although there are less Academy members in NYC…and not taking screeners into account, there were 5 people at “In Darkness” and a full house at “Lazhar.” These are things to keep in mind in terms of predicting, I think. It is possible that very few members actually decide this win. And who knows which members go. We all think “A Separation” is going to win. But what if only a handful of “name the group” actually goes…and they are biased toward a country or them? Maybe I’m thinking too much. I’m still going with “A Separation.”) “Monsieur Lazhar” takes place in a school in Canada, where a tragedy has lead to an opening for a teaching position for a class with bright students who need a bit of delicacy (due to the recent tragedy). At least according to the school and the therapist they have hired to help them through their hard time. Enter the very optimistic teacher with new ideas, Monsieur Lazhar played by Mohamed Fellag. Although it doesn’t have the cultural subtext, it reminded me a lot of “The Class,” which I also loved. Here in the US, we have had so many (mostly bad) teacher/student movies. But this one truly stands out, with great performances by everyone…especially the kids.

The film that probably has the only shot at beating “A Separation” is Agnieska Holland’s “In Darkness.” I first became aware of Holland when she was nominated back in 1990 when her film “Europa Europa” snagged a screenplay nod (and a Golden Globe win) even though the film didn’t make the foreign film top 5. It was an incredible film, and I considered briefly whether or not the Academy might make up for her snub by awarding “In Darkness.” I almost always wonder after whatever the “last” holocaust film might be how another film could possibly be able to tell yet another original story on the subject. I thought the same thing back when “Sophie Scholl” was nominated. And yet again, I am reminded that there are many, many stories to tell. This is a moving one about a sewer worker names Leopold Sosha who helps Jews in Poland hide in the very sewers he is supposed to be monitoring for runaways. It is a simply told story that moved me very much.

There is also “Footnote,” Israel’s entry. A researcher in his later years is finally awarded the “Italy Prize” for research on the Talmud after years of campaigning and once, early-ish in his career, losing his best chance to the very same man who now leads the committee that chooses the winner. And all this just as his son is rising to stardom in the very same field. I have honestly never seen a film quite like this…especially in this category. It is a bit of a comedy…albeit, slightly dark…though quite entertaining. But in terms of a win…it’s a bit forgettable. And unless the Academy members saw it directly before making their choices, I doubt it will have much of a chance.

And finally, there is “Bullhead.” This is the film that most people say shockingly made it in thanks to the special foreign language committee…similarly to “Dogtooth” last year, deserving or not. And it was also a surprise to one of it’s producers. I got my screener directly from one of the very young men from Drafthouse (the distributor) who happens to live in NYC. We live rather close to each other so we met briefly for him to give me the film. A total NY moment!He said something like “this whole thing is so amazing. This is only our second film.” And it is. It’s one of those great Oscar stories that actually could lead to a win. And again…if “A Separation” wasn’t in the mix…this one might have a shot as well. I had quite a strange experience watching this movie. Part character study, part crime drama, we follow Jacky played (there is a theme here!) brilliantly by Belgian actor Matthias Schoenaerts. He is a user of endurance enhancing drugs…while, at the same time selling the same sort of drug on the black market for use on livestock. The through line of the film comes to light in a horrific (and what I thought initially unnecessary) scene a bit early on. The film already a bit heavy on the metaphor…takes us to a new level…with the concept or question of what is necessary to truly be a man. Or more specifically what Jacky feels is necessary. At first I thought the film was TELLING me the answer…and is was one I didn’t agree with. But then…as the film progressed and as I was won over by Schoenaerts’s vulnerable, if “dangerous” character and his portrayal of him and eventually the film as a whole. I also realized a bit of a lesson. So what if Jacky believe this path to restore his manhood is the right one and I don’t agree. That doesn’t mean I have to hate the film. This revelation helped me come to terms with the fact that this was simply Jacky’s story…not a piece of propaganda defining masculinity. In the end, I realized I was riveted for 2 hours…questioning…but engaged. It is definitely the film I have thought the most about after seeing it.

So, there you have it. There has been much debate about the way certain nominations are handled by certain branches,including this one, but for many years I have found 5 nominees that have been quite rewarding in many different ways. And this year is the strongest I can remember. I might be surprised if a couple of them won, but in all honesty I would be happy with almost any outcome. And although many of you don’t have the opportunities I have to see most of these films, hopefully you will take these opinions (as well as the Academy’s) and seek them out when they are available to you.