By Jose Alberto Hermosillo
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| ®A. M. P. A. S. Photo by Jose Alberto Hermosillo. |
A record-breaking of 83 countries submitted a
film in the category of Best Foreign Language Film to the 87th Academy Awards® of which 16
films are from Latin countries. Out of the 83 submissions, 14 were directed by women, and three
are Latinas (Colombia, Costa Rica, and Dominican Republic). Four countries submitted a film for the first
time, Panama is among them. And two directors are from the same nationality (Mexico) representing different countrIes.
Two of the Latino submissions are
documentaries: Portugal and Panama. In the past two years, two documentaries
have been nominated for best foreign film: 2013 Germany’s “Pina” and 2014 Cambodia's animated submission “The Missing Picture.” The Academy® may consider a new category: Best
Foreign Documentary Feature.
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| (L.) Dana Rotberg (R.) Amat Escalante ©Festival in LA. |
For the second year in a row, two Mexican directors are representing two
different countries, last year New Zealand
submitted a film made by the Mexican born director Dana Rotberg’s “White Lies” and Mexico submitted the best
director winner in Cannes Amat Escalante’s "Heli."
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Two Mexican directors compete for two different countries:
Bolivia and Mexico.
(L.) Carlos Bolado (R.) Sebastian Del Olmo ©Festival in LA. |
This year, Bolivia has submitted, for the third time a movie co-produced by
Mexico: “Olvidados” by Carlos Bolado
(“Colosio: El asesinato,” “Tlatelolco,
Verano 68”), and “Cantinflas” by
Sebastian Del Olmo (“The Fantastic World
of Juan Orol”), both directors are from Mexico.
El
Salvador, Belize, Honduras
and Paraguay never submitted a film.
Nicaragua and Puerto Rico each got a
nomination, but didn’t submit this year: Miguel Littin's “Alcino
y el Cóndor” and Jacobo Morales' “Lo que le pasó a
Santiago/What Ever Happened to Santiago?” Those films were nominated in 1983 and 1989, respectively. Chilean director Miguel Littin has been nominated twice: the one we mention previously representing Nicaragua and his first nomination was for Mexico: "Letters from Marucia/Actas de Marucia."
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| Miguel Littin @ LALIFF ©Festival in LA |
Some of the Latino submissions are in
theaters or at the film festivals, some are available on DVD and V.O.D.
The 16 Latino Submissions are:
1.
Argentina
“Wild Tales/Relatos Salvajes"
Directed
by Damián Szifrón and produced by Pedro Almodóvar. The 10 minute standing
ovation in Cannes showed how much people liked this well crafted film,
with a perfect character development and wonderful cast ensemble. The South
American submission is a front runner for winning gold this year. The film has
been watched for more than 2.5 million people in Argentina.
Argentina is the
only Latin-American country in winning two times in this category: “The Official Story/La historia oficial”
in 1985 and “The Secret in Their Eyes/El
secreto de sus ojos” in 2009. This year “Wild Stories/Relatos Salvajes” is a very strong candidate to get a
nomination. The fantastic soundtrack composed by two times Oscar® winner
Gustavo Santaolalla (“Babel,” “Brokeback
Mountain”) could be a contender for original score as well, if the movie
gets released in US theaters before the end of the year.
2.
Bolivia
“Olvidados”
Directed by
Carlos Bolado. A powerful “Che” style story that shows the consequences
of the Cold War in South America in the 70’s depicting what is known as
“Operation Condor” (people, students and thinkers who disappeared under the
military dictatorship).
3. Brazil
“The Way He Looks/
Hoje Eu Quero Voltar Sozinho”
Directed by Daniel Ribeiro. A sweet coming-of-age movie about a blind teenager
named Leonardo and his best friend Giovana and his over protecting mother. At
the school, everything changes upon the arrival of Gabriel, who makes Leonardo
“see” the world differently.
The naturalistic sets and good dialogues make this
first time filmmaker a strong candidate. People at OUTFEST 2014 loved this movie. Brazil has been nominated four times,
and once made it to the shortlist. “City
of God” didn't get a nomination in this category, but
the violent film of Fernando Meirelles (“Blindness,” “The
Constant Gardener”) got four nominations: Best
director, adapted screenplay, cinematography, and editing.
4.
Chile
“To Kill a Man/
Matar a un hombre”
Directed by Alejandro Fernández Almendras. The story of a hard working man and
his family who have been terrorized by a neighbor. After serving two years in prison,
the bully returns for vengeance. The father has to come out with a better survival plan.
This intense Chilean thriller was released in
the US on DVD by Film Movement a few months ago and is a good example of the excellency of Chilean productions.
5.
Colombia
“Mateo”
Directed by María Gamboa. A
teen runs away from the mafia and drug lords finding refuge in the theater
where he feels safe. This is the first feature for María Gamboa, who graduated from NYU. She got the idea of the movie after working on a T.V. Series 'Revelados' where she saw how theater helped children to stay away from the war that Colombia suffered for many years. This is a Colombian-French co-production.
6. Costa Rica
“Red
Princesses/
Princesas Rojas”
Directed by Laura Astorga. A beautiful story of a girl growing up during
the Sandinista-era. Similar concept to the 2006 Brazilian submission “The Year My Parents Went on Vacation.”
7. Cuba
“Behavior/Conducta”
Directed by Ernesto
Daranas. The story of a teacher who want to change the system and a boy that
needs to change his behavior to become a better man, regardless of the negative
influences of his father, classmates, society and poverty. Sydney and Toronto
Film Festival gave to the Cuban movie great reviews. Cuba has been nominated
only once for “Strawberry and Chocolate/Fresa
y chocolate.”
8. Dominican
Republic
“Cristo Rey”
Directed by
Leticia Tonos. An explosive film about a deprived town in Santiago, where
Dominicans and Haitians struggle to live together, their enormous differences
tear them apart. Two half brothers will fight for the same
girl, one of them will join the Cristo Rey gang.
9. Ecuador
“Silence in Dreamland/
El
silencio en la tierra de los sueños”
Directed by Tito Molina. This beautifully shot film is muddy and
artistic. It is co-produced between Ecuador and Germany.
10. México
“Cantinflas”
Directed by
Sebastian Del Olmo. The biopic
of the famous Mexican comedian “Cantinflas”
has been a box office success in Mexico and in the US. The films from
Mexico and Poland, “Ida,” both got
released in movie theaters before they were the official submission, becoming more well known in America and that makes them strong contenders. “Cantinflas”
could also get a nomination in other categories: best make-up, best costume design, and best original
song, and is still showing in some theaters. Mexico has submitted films for 40 years, eight nominations, and in 2008 "Arrancame la vida/Tear this Heart Out" made it to the shortlist.
11. Panama
“Invasión”
Directed by Abner Benaim.
The documentary talks about the memories that people have during the US
invasion of their country, the bombs falling from the sky. The number of deaths
will be never known. The winner of best film and best documentary at the Panama
Film Festival has a very different point of view on the same event depicted in
the 1992 best documentary Oscar© winner "The
Panama Deception." It’s similar to the war memories of El Salvador in
the documentary “The Tiniest Place/Ellugar más pequeño.”
12. Peru
“The Gosepel of the Flesh/
El evenagelio de
la carne”
Directed by Eduardo Mendoza De Echave. A fierce and complex urban
drama about hope, faith, and human life. Three different stories with
complicated scenarios. The city by itself is playing a major character. The
locals are saying that this film is the best Peruvian movie ever made. Peru has
submitted films many times and it got nominated in 2009 for “The Milk of Sorrow/La teta asustada”
directed by Claudia Llosa.
13. Portugal
“What Now? Remind Me/
E Agora? Lembra Me”
Directed by Joaquim Pinto. This gorgeous documentary follows the life of Joaquim
Pinto. A film director that returns with this personal and existentialist
document, he has been considered as one of the most influential filmmakers in
Portugal. Now, he is brave enough to show to the world his existence living
with HIV for more than 20 years, what he calls “a notebook of records of
clinical trials.” This Portuguese entry is getting ovations at the festivals of
New York, Locarno and Vienna. Portugal has been submitting films since 1980 and
never got a nomination.
14. Spain
“Living is Easy with Eyes Closed/
Vivir es
fácil con los ojos cerrados”
Directed by David Trueba. Based on a real life
story, this nostalgic and heartfelt drama is about a teacher on the road to
meet the legendary singer John Lennon. The film has won many awards in Spain,
including The Goya for best picture. The film has been shown in one theater in
Miami creating a big buzz among spectators. It's selected to open the Recent Spanish Cinema Los Angeles on October 16th. The director David Trueba will
be present at this West Coast premiere. The Egyptian Theater has confirmed that this event is completely SOLD OUT a week in advance. Spain has been nominated 19 times, winning four Oscars®.
15. Uruguay
“Mr. Kaplan”
Directed by Alvaro
Brechner. A quixotic adventure about a retiree tired living a monotonous life
when a lonely German awakes his suspicions of being Nazi. Kaplan hires a
retired cop to kidnap the suspect. After winning the best actor award at the Biarritz
and raving reviews at the BFI London Film Festival "Mr. Kaplan" can give a big surprise. Brechner amazed the festival circuit with his previous work of magical realism “Bad Day to Go Fishing/Mal dia para pescar.” The plot of “Mr.
Kaplan” may intrigue the Academy members to nominate Uruguay for the “second time,” the first time Uruguay got nominated was in 1992 for “A Place in the World/Un lugar en el mundo,”
but it got disqualified because there was a claim saying that the production was more
Argentinean rather than Uruguayan.
16. Venezuela
“The Liberator/Libertador”
Directed by
Alberto Aruelo. An epic time period
drama about the revolution of independence Simon Bolivar embarked for South America. The soundtrack is composed by the talented
and famous Los Angeles Philharmonic conductor Gustavo Dudamel.
“The Liberator” is
having a good exposure by playing in the U.S.A. theaters, a big
advantage for a Latin-American country - busting the possibilities of getting a
nomination.
The options for the Latin countries to reach out and grab an Oscar® nomination are here, the quality and visions of their work speak for themselves.
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