The top is divided in two: we have the list with the movies that are Oscar winning for Best Foreign Film, and foreign films that had the highest grossing in the U.S. First, the list of Oscar winning films.
Until now, Europe leads with Italy (13 movies) followed by France (12 films) and 3rd place we have two countries with the same score: Spain and Japan (4 movies). Regarding the subject, I noticed that they incline especially for dramas / melodramas or films with political issue. This is the complete list of winning foreign films, and those nominated for Oscars in the past 10 years:
It’s a movie with humor and melodrama where a woman goes in search of his father, who meanwhile has become a transvestite named Lola. With Cecilia Roth, Marisa Paredes and Penelope Cruz. This Spanish comedy drama was as competition these films: Caravan (Nepal), East-West (France), Solomon and Gaenor (England). I admit that besides the winning film I didn’t saw none of the nominees, so I can not opine.
09. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Taiwan) directed by Ang Lee it is about a legendary warrior and an impossible love story, a martial arts tale, a film that “defies the laws of gravity” with Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh in starring. Has compete with Amores Perros (Mexico) (which in my opinion deserves the prize), Divided We Fall (Czech Republic).
08. No Man’s Land
No Man’s Land (Bosnia and Herzegovina) directed by Danis Tanovic wounded two soldiers, one Bosnian and one from Serbia faces on neutral territory. It is a drama about the conflict in former Yugoslavia that won fabulous films such as Amélie (France) and Elling (Norway).
Nowhere in Africa (Germany) directed by Caroline Link’s. It is the screening of an autobiographical novel of Stefan Zweig. The story of a Hebrew family who immigrate to Kenya to escape from the Nazi terror. The drama with historic accents it is in front of such films as “The Crime of Father Amaro” (Mexico) and “Hero” (China).
The Barbarian Invasions (Canada) – directed by Denys Arcand, it is a dramatic comedy about a man with cancer who is trying (with his estranged son) to put their memories and review it to last all those who have meant something in his life. In that year were nominated the movies “Evil” (Sweden), “The Twilight Samurai” (Japan).
05. The Sea Inside
“The Sea Inside” (Spain), directed by Alejandro Amenabar it is a dramatic true story of a sick man who fights for the right to euthanasia. Javier Bardem’s performance won in front of films such as “As It Is in Heaven” (Sweden) and “Les choristes” (France).
04. Tsotsi
Tsotsi – (South Africa) directed by Gavin Hood won with a story of survival in dangerous suburbs of Johannesburg. The film follows the adventures for 6 days of a young thief who steals a car and who finds a baby that is needed to deal with. The African drama competed with films like “La Bestia nel cuore” (Italy), “Joyeux Noel” (France)
The Life of Others (Germany), directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck it is a movie with political issue that has aroused the interest of Americans. It is a playwright who lives in East Berlin and who is suspected by security. After him is being a spy who is partaking in everyday life through its dozens of microphones that he planted in the house. The movie had serious competition especially with “El Laberinto del fauno” (Mexico).
The Counterfeiters (Austria) directed by Stefan Ruzowitzky by just a year ago won a German film with political topic, in 2007 is among an Austrian film to go home with an American statue. It’s “The Counterfeiters” (Counterfeiters) a drama inspired by a real case that speaks the most complex counterfeiting operation in history, set up by the Nazis in 1936. The movie competed with directors as Nikita Mikhalkov.
“The Secret in Their Eyes” – (Argentina) directed by Juan Jose Campanella won with the story of a man who is obsessed to solve mysteries of a murder committed 30 years ago. A drama enough syrup for my taste and in competition which has the best foreign film made that year, “The White Ribbon” directed by Michael Haneke. Any of the movies nominated: “Ajami” (Israel), “The Milk of Sorrow” (Peru) deserves the award more than the winner.
