By
Jose Alberto Hermosillo,
Fifteen Latino pictures were submitted this year to the Academy® Awards to contend in the Best Foreign Language Film category. Spain, Brazil, Ireland, and Guatemala are among the Latino favorites.
Last year, two Latino submissions made it into the top nine. Argentina got and Oscar® nomination for “Wild Tales/Relatos Salvajes” and Venezuela's “The Libertator” made it into the shortlist.
The Foreign Language category is highly spirited, having 81 nations competing with each other.
The European films
have more prestige, press coverage, tradition, and are the favorites to grab a
nomination and even to win. A clear example, last year's winner “Ida” from
Poland.
The films from Europe that are making big waves are: Hungary’s “Son of Saul,”
Denmark’s “A War,” “Iceland’s “Rams,” “Enclave” from Serbia, “Paradise Suite” from the Netherlands.
"Mustang" from France, a family drama shot in Turkey, is also expected to be in the short list.
The
languages Latino movies speak this year are: Portuguese, Basque, Mayan-Kaqchiel, Warao, Spanish, and the Colombian representation is spoken in
nine different languages, including German, English, Spanish and six other
dialects.
This year Guatemala's submission is a well accomplished
ethnic drama winner of the Silver Bear in Berlin, “Ixcanul/Volcano” is the Latino film generating a big buzz.
Brazil’s submission “The Second Mother” is getting great reviews and it is the
only Latino submission shown already in U.S. theaters.
Ireland has a gay-Latino film in Spanish shot in Cuba named “Viva”
with Jorge Perugorria (“Strawberry
and Chocolate/Fresa y Chocolate”) Oscar® nominee in 1993.
Mexico
has submitted 40 films and is the Latin-American country with more Oscar® nominations,
eight in total, but never won. On the contrary Argentina had seven
nominations and won twice. Spain has been nominated nineteen times and won four
times.
Bolivia,
Ecuador, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua did not submit this year, but they have
sent films previously. Even Nicaragua, Cuba, and Puerto Rico have been nominated
before.
Panama's interaction with the Academy® started last year. The Canal Country is submitting a documentary for the second time - their stories deal with their conflicting relationship with the U.S.: “Invasion” and “Box 25” this particular film didn’t make it to the Academy’s
final list. We don’t know why. Probably because the Panamanian submission has too much English to be considerated as a"foreign."
Paraguay made history for been the only one country submitting a film for the first time this year.
El Salvador, Honduras, and Belize never submitted a film,
EVER.
And
the Latino Submissions are:
ARGENTINA
The Clan/El Clan
SPANISH
Pablo Trapero
“The
Clan” Written and directed by Pablo Trapero (“El Bonarense,” “Leonera/Lion’s
Den,” “Carancho”) is a crime film winner of the Silver Lion in Venice. “El Clan” is a story based on real
life events of the criminal activities of the Puccio’s family who kidnapped four people in
Buenos Aires, and killed three of them, it was a period of transition in the Argentina's history, from the military dictatorship to a new democracy.
The
atmosphere of the 80’s is remarkable, and the music by Sebastian
Escofet gives the perfect ambiance. Actor Gullermo Francella is terrific.
Argentina may have its second consecutive Oscar® nomination and it may win, even
with the grimy violence that could be a turn off for the voters, but as a reminder,
the 2005 winner “Tsotsi” from South Africa was pretty violent too.
BRAZIL
Second Mother/
Que horas ela Volta?
PORTUGUESE
Anna Muylaert
“The
Second Mother” is a very sweet story of a live-in maid with a wealthy family, in
San Paolo, Brazil. Val takes care of everyone, especially the son, a very
dependent teenager neglected by his pretentious mother. The situation in the
house gets complicated when Val’s daughter, Jessica, moves-in, to make the admission exam at the local university.
Even
though, this is a story we have seen before many times, the humanistic approach
by the director Anna Maylaer (“The Year My Parents Went on Vacation”) clearly shows
the class differences in Brazil’s society. Jealousy, betrayal, and guilt
are the key elements of this universal theme that have critics raving. Something
remarkable about the film is the sacrifices that a poor mother is going
through to take care of her child. This is well enough to well-keep the audience
emotionally involved for more than two hours.
CHILE
The Club/El Club
SPANISH
Pablo Larraín
“The
Club” is an exposé of the scandal and corruption of the Catholic Church during the dictatorship of
Pinochet in Chile. Oscar®
nominee director Pablo Larrain (“No”) in his film talks about the crimes and child abuse
committed by eight Priests confined to a rural retirement home in La Boca
Navidad, near Viña del Mar and the Nun who takes care of them.
When
a new member arrives, also a former abused altar boy, looking for revenge, shows up in the front of the house and starts creating the chaos.
The director, masterful, and without being condescending, makes the film deals straight forward with the true nature
of the claims and the church's cover-up.
COLOMBIA
El abrazo de la serpiete
SPANISH, GERMAN, CUBEO, ENGLISH, HUITO, TICUNA, WANANO
Ciro Guerra
Colombia’s
film was made in nine different languages and follows two interconnected
stories about the travels of two explorers; a German and an American
into the Amazonian region. They are looking for the Yakruna, a plant that cures everything. The great
Shaman Karamakate accompanies them in their journeys, both stories are taking place thirty
years apart.
The stunning black and white film was shot inside of the Amazons and gives to the jungle’s natural light an amazing surreal looks, making the drama reaching its climax when the Shaman and the community members start asking for
respect. Director
Ciro Guerra (“The Wind Journeys/Los viajes del viento”) delivers again, a powerful
piece of filmmaking, showing Colonialism, invasion, and modern slavery in an
unfair trade with the natives of the Continent.
COSTA RICA
Presos/Imprisoned
SPANISH
Esteban Ramirez
Costa
Rica’s story is about a friendship of a young girl with a prison inmate - A secret,
soon to be revealed to her family. The consequences
of this unusual relationship raises everyone’s tension, inside the jail and out, because
some will view the relationship as natural as it can be and others will fight
against such dull love. The odd couple will do what it takes to have their love
prevail. An original story that could be compare with a novel from the Nobel Prize winner Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Dólares de Arena/Sand Dollars
SPANISH
Laura Amelia Guzman,
Israel Cardenas
In the Dominican
Republic there is a little paradise named Samaná, its resorts and beaches are an attraction to rich people. Outside the paradise, locals live in total poverty and they will
do whatever it takes to survive.
The youngsters are selling their bodies to the wealthy
foreigners that pay for the orgies, tobacco, rum, and sex.
The
explosive soundtrack, of this Dominican/Mexican co-production is well accompanied by amazing ‘bachatas,’ telling the characters'
stories and emotions through music.
Geraldine Chaplin delivers one of her best performances of her career. Newcomers Yanet Mojica and Ricardo Ariel Toribio are fresh and
natural.
“Dólares de arena” is the best Dominican movie in recent years.
GUATEMALA
Ixcanul/Volcano
MAYAN KAQCHIQUE
Jairo Bustamante
“Ixcanul/Volcano”
is a daring coming of age story of a young teenager living in an isolated Mayan
community who starts discovering her sexuality, emotions, and her personal conflict
with her challenging reality. (FULL REVIEW).
In
recent years, the Academy®, looking for diversity, is making
sure Ethnic Cinema is represented at the Awards, “The Milk of Sorrow/La teta
asustada” from Peru, “Witch Craft”from Canada, “The Missing Picture” from Cambodia, and last year’s
nominee “Timbuktu” from Mauritania, make us think that the representative of
Guatemala will be a secure contender.
IRELAND
Viva
SPANISH
Paddy Breathnach
Jesus
is young Drag Queen in La Havana with big dreams of getting the chance of her
life, to perform on stage. Her father, a former boxer is there to punch those
dreams out of her head. They haven’t seen each other for fifteen years and now life
has put them back together. The political situation
in Cuba towards gays is plagued with homophobia, stereotypes, and
misunderstandings.
In "Viva" father and son must cope together, understand each other for surviving, love, and
comprehension. After all, they have the same blood. “Viva” is a very strong
candidate to be nominated.
MEXICO
600 Millas / 600 Miles
SPANISH
Gabriel Ripstein
The
Mexican road movie will take us to a remarkable journey of 600 miles long,
right from the border with the U.S.A. all the way into the heart of the Mexico, where an unusual friendship is
born. Arnulfo, a Mexican weapon/drug dealer, Kristyan Ferrer (“Buen Día, Ramón,”
“Days of Grace,” “The Empty Hours/Las horas muertas”) and Harris, an ATF Agent
played by: Tim Roth (“Pulp Fiction,” “Selma,” “Chronic”). Harris wants to catch
Arnulfo in his illicit business, the Mexican guy kidnaps him with the intention
to take him to his bosses. The
War on Drugs is a tough topic, where in the U.S., selling weapons and buying drugs
contrast with the poverty, production, distribution, kidnappings,
and violence on the Mexican side.
“600 Miles” won the Silver Bear for best first feature at the
Berlin International Film Festival. Other recent films submitted by Mexico on the
“Narco” issue are: “Helí,” “Miss Bala,” and “Backyard, El Transpatio.” None of them
had any luck.
PARAGUAY
El tiempo nublado/
Cloudy Times
SPANISH
Arami Ullon
Paraguay
first time ever submitting a film to the Academy has made history with a
marvelous documentary of an intimate and very personal story of filmmaker Arami
Ullon who lives in a Basel and his aging mother who has epilepsy and Parkinson’s
disease. They cannot afford a professional caretaker. Her friend Julia is helping the
mother, as the mother’s condition deteriorated, because of what is going on, the daughter has to return
and take care of her.
This
enduring documentary is co-produced by Paraguay and Switzerland. The title of the film makes
perfect sense because what’s going on in the mother’s head.
PERU
NN
SPANISH
Hérctor Galvéz
Peru’s
submission “NN” stands for “No Name/No Nombre.” It follows a forensic team in
charge of identifying bodies in mass graves. A male body has a woman’s picture
inside his clothes. Fidel, one of the forensic Doctors, goes out looking for her. He finds the widow and cares for her. The situation turns unbearable with
the enormous bureaucracy of the forensic department - those bodies are just
numbers. Fidel has a more humanistic approach, it is why he is trying his best to
connect the dots to heal the souls.
Peru
had another two good high-quality options: an intricate drama “The Banishing
Elephant/El elefante desaparecido” and the popular “Magallanes.” We hope “NN” can
reach a nomination as “The Milk of Sorrow/La teta asustada” did it in 2009.
PORTUGAL
Arabian Nights Volume 2 The Desolate One
Miguel Gomes
Portugal’s
submission is the part two of a six hour trilogy based on the book “One
Thousand and One Nights/As Mil e uma Noites.” A highly complex film of vignettes
put together in a modern Portuguese society.
The vast variety of tales that go
from a drone following a very old running inmate in the fields, to a cute
little dog and his ghost in the city, a rapper who is recording in a closet
(literally) or naked Brazilian ladies sunbathing on a rooftop. “Arabian Nights”
director is one of the greatest Portuguese filmmakers, Miguel Gomez (“Tabu” and
“Our Beloved Month of August”) who makes this piece an epic cinematic
experience.
SPAIN
Loreak/Flowers
John Garaño
Jose Mari Goenaga
Flowers is the Spanish submission - is a very naturalistic story about grief that follows three women mourning from the same man, a wife, a mother, and a coworker. All of them connected with the gifts of flowers who became also a character in the movie. The exquisite symbolism and the slow pace makes "Flowers" quiet delectable and a strong candidate to be in the short list.
URUGUAY
Una noche sin luna/A Moonless Night
SPANISH
Germán Tejeira
Three
characters: Cesar the divorced man, Antonio the magician, and Laura a cashier
at local highway’s toll station getting lost during a New Year’s celebration
in the Uruguay’s countryside. They will have an opportunity to change their
lives once and for all.
This film could be considered as part magical realism,
a genre that has been so popular in the Latin-American countries. The road
story is similar to Alvaro Brechner’s “Bad Day to Go Fishing” who last year
represented his country with “Mr. Kaplan.”
VENEZUELA
Lo que se lleva el río/Gone With the River
WARAO
Mario Crespo
“Dauna”
is an ethnic story of a young woman influenced by her father to achieve the
power of knowledge which had passed on to them from their ancestors from the Orinoco River.
Dauna’s husband, hoping
for a traditional woman doesn’t comprehend her free spirit. There are rumors in town about her that cannot get pregnant that makes her to run away. She
returns to comply with the tribe’s rules, but her spirit dares to be different. Her power
influences their community to move forward. The film was written and directed by
Mario Crespo.
Last year, Venezuela’s “Liberator” made it to the Academy’s short
list, this year, the South-American country aims to go farther.
Related Articles:
“Ixcanul” Pursuits Guatemala’s First Oscar® Nomination
128 Documentary Submitted for the Ocars® 2016
16 Latino Submissions for the Academy Awards® 2015
Can “The Revenant” Be a Good Oscar® Contender?
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