Hollywood () — Argentina wants to repeat the triumph experienced during the World Cup, but now on a different field, that of the Oscar.
For the grand cinematographic final on March 12, the film Argentina, 1985 does not face a single team, but four equally emotional and necessary productions, by director Santiago Mitre, who for the first time competes with this production in the category of best international film from the Hollywood Academy.
“I think it is an impressive film, with great sensitivity, which is very respectful of the subject it touches on,” its protagonist, actor Ricardo Darín, commented to about this production that narrates the efforts of the civil judiciary to prosecute several heads of the Argentine military, accused of committing human rights violations during the dictatorship.
For its Oscar campaign, Argentina, 1985, it had the support of Amazon Prime Video, which distributed it worldwide, guaranteeing wide-ranging exhibition and promotion. Not all films in this or another Oscar category have the support of a large studio or film distributor, but although this gives it a great advantage over the competition, the Argentine film has its own merits to go far.
(Credit: Prime Video)
That great visibility that it has had during these weeks prior to the final vote -and the fact of receiving other awards such as the Golden Globe- places it as a leader, but the impact of its rivals must not be ruled out. In the group for the best international film, what Germany, Belgium, Ireland and Poland considered to be the best of their respective cinematographies also participate.
POLAND – A donkey teaching humanity
(JULIE SEBADELHA/AFP via Getty Images)
“EO”, the title of the Polish film and which corresponds to the name of its four-legged protagonist, is the least conventional opponent of this group, but it is directed by one of the oldest filmmakers from that European country: Jerzy Skolimowski.
This film, despite what its briefest synopsis promises: the adventures of a donkey who runs into good people and bad people in life, moved me in such a way that I ended up including it in the list of my ten favorite “Ojo” films. Critic”, in 2022. The lessons of humanity that its protagonist gives us are powerful.
IRELAND – What a girl shuts up
Courtesy: Bankside Films
The Quiet Girl, representative of Ireland and spoken primarily in the Irish Gaelic language, is an elegant and melancholy reflection on childhood and family.
Colm Bairéad is the director of this film where a girl, from humble origins and ignored by her parents, must spend the summer with relatives of better social position. With them she will discover secrets about filial love.
BELGIUM – How to contaminate a pure friendship
A24
“Close”, by director Lukas Dhont, explores, in a beautifully bucolic setting, the friendship of two 13-year-old boys who, without knowing it, are getting closer to a distressing reality, which will define their future definitively.
The film, which talks about the prejudices and especially the shame that society imposes on the most innocent, is also included in my Top 10 of “Ojo Crítico” and would represent one of the big surprises of the night if it wins the Oscar.
GERMANY – The old horrors of war in modern and very warlike times
Of Argentina’s four Oscar rivals, the German candidate is the one to fear the most, for many reasons.
Unlike Argentina, 1985, which only has one Oscar nomination, “All Quiet on the Western Front”, by director Edward Berger, turned out to be one of the most nominated films, with 9 mentions. The German competes in important categories such as script adaptation, photography and, most importantly, best film of the year.
Just like Argentina, 1985, All Quiet on the Front – its official title in – managed to get a streaming giant to back it with global distribution. In his case it was Netflix, which still hasn’t won the most precious Oscar of the night: best movie, but will continue to invest money and efforts until it does.
There is also an interesting fact that draws special attention to this tale of a young German’s patriotic spirit and his eventual call to the front lines: his story is not the first time it has been told on film.
Erich Maria Remarque’s novel had its first adaptation for the big screen in 1930; Curiously, it was Hollywood who did it, to later end up taking the Oscars for best director and best film that same year.
Although it is difficult for this new German version to repeat the feat of its American predecessor of 94 years ago, its triumph in the category of best international film is much more achievable. As background, there is the fact that it already swept the BAFTA awards, the British Academy of Film Awards, where it beat Argentina, 1985 as a film in a language other than English.
Argentina and Germany are thus faced with two stories of political, historical and moral analysis, but the second may perhaps have more relevance among the voters of the Academy, when just one year has passed since the armed conflict in Ukraine, and which many have pointed out as the eventual fuse of a possible world war conflict.
As in soccer, these two countries meet again for a golden trophy. On Sunday, March 12, we will then know if it is the Argentines who are victorious against the Germans, as in the 1986 World Cup.
