by Nathaniel R
Four countries have already announced their Oscar submissions thus far but soon the official titles will start pouring in from all over the place. Today we have news from Germany and Poland, both of which have won the category before. Both countries have named a list of finalists for the submission. Those titles are after the jump...
9 GERMAN FINALISTS
All Quiet on the Western Front
- All Quiet on the Western Front by Edward Berger
Based on the classic World War I novel which was already made into a Best Picture winner in 1930. Netflix will distribute - The Forger by Maggie Peren
Louis Hoffman (Dark, Land of Mine) stars as a Jewish man hiding in plain sight in wartime in Germany in the 40s and helping others by forging fake IDs.
Lieber Kurt
- Lieber Kurt by Til Schweiger
Schweiger (Inglourious Basterds, Maybe Maybe Not) also stars as a man grieving his lost son and dealing with both his new girlfriend and his ex wife. - Mostly Minimalistic by Natja Brunckhorst
An opposites attract romantic comedy between a hoarder and a man with few possessions - Nico by Eline Gehring
An old woman begins to train to fight after a racist attack shakes her world
No One's With the Calves
- No One's with the Calves by Sabrina Sarabi
A bored young woman on a farm in a loveless relationship - Rabiye Kurnaz vs. George W. Bush by Andreas Dresen
A drama about a stubborn mother who seeks to help her son despite indifferent useless authorities - Talking About the Weather by Annika Pinske
A woman trying to balance everything: career, relationships, family - We Might as Well Be Dead by Natalia Sinelnikova
An apartment complex where the tenants become paranoid. This film picked up a cinematography prize at Tribeca.
None of these directors have ever been submitted by Germany before. Berger has the most high profile film since it's a Netflix film and the source material is widely recognized as classic. But one can never assume that high profile = everything when it comes to Oscar submissions. Three of the titles here (Rabiye Kurnaz, No One's With the Calves, and Nico) were nominated for the Best Actress prize at the Lolas (The German Film Awards), with Rabiye Kurnaz vs George Bush as the winner. Prediction: The safe bet is All Quiet but Rabiye Kurnaz and The Forger both sound like real possibilities.
7 POLISH FINALISTS
The Balcony Movie
- The Balcony Movie by Pawel Lozinski
A documentary in which the filmmaker interviews people no the street under his balcony. It's been popular at festivals. - Broad Peak by Leszek Dawid
A mountain climber attempts to complete a journey he began 25 years earlier. Netflix will distribute in the US. - EO by Jerzy Skolimowski
This movie, from the point of view of a donkey, won the jury prize at Cannes. Janus films will distribute in the US. - Fucking Bornholm by Anna Kazejak
Families on vacation together have a crisis because of an altercation between their children - Iluzja by Marta Minorowicz
A woman investigates the disappearance of her daughter, questioning everything
Silent Land
- Silent Land by Aga Woszczynska
A couple on vacation discover problems with their pool and things worsen when they ask for it to be fixed - Woman on the Roof by Anna Jadowska
Inspired by the true story of an elderly woman who robbed a bank
None of these filmmakers have ever been submitted to the Oscars. The highest profile option is EO since it already generated buzz at Cannes. Poland will make its decision by August 26th. Their own Film Awards take place in June each year, so it's an extremely different calendar than the Oscars and none of the film's that were up for prizes at the recent ceremony are in this list as they're too old to be eligible. Prediction: EO with The Balcony Movie as a possible spoiler.
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