A pair of cinematic tales of discovery created by Latin American auteurs received nominations for the upcoming Academy Awards set to take place on February 28th.
“Embrace of the Serpent” (“El Abrazo de la Serpiente”) became the first-ever Colombian movie selected as a finalist for Best Foreign Film. The lone Latin American entry in that category is loosely based on the diaries of scientists Theodor Koch-Grunberg and Richard Evans Schultes during their search in the early 20th-century for a sacred plant in the Amazon rainforest. The film follows the perspectives of these botanists along with indigenous and a shaman as they interact with each other and explore the jungle world surrounding them. “Embrace” also examines the clash of cultures and affects to the environment that develop between natives and visitors.
Two unique features of this movie directed by Ciro Guerra is that it jumps back and forth in time, and was filmed entirely in black and white. He justified these actions by claiming that he “wanted the film to feel like it’s a place that exists but is in another world, another time.”
“Embrace” was a modest success in Colombia where the local film industry has grown over the past decade but has become critically acclaimed worldwide since its domestic release last May. The film won the Art Cinema Award as part of the Directors' Fortnight section at last year’s Cannes Film Festival and has garnered a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Embrace producer Cristina Gallo may have had her strong doubts over the film’s nomination but the odds are pretty good that it could become the third Latin American and first non-Argentine movie to win Best Foreign Film.
“Inside Out” is the clear favorite to capture Best Animated Feature yet history was made when a Brazilian production became the first Latin American film to be chosen in that category.
Showing posts with label Academy Awards. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Academy Awards. Show all posts
Thursday, January 14, 2016
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Nusetro Cine: Orfeu e Eurydice
Tonight we will find out if Argentine anthology comedy “Wild Tales” can upset Polish Holocaust-era drama “Ida” and Russian satire “Leviathan” to capture the Oscar for top foreign film. Twice before has a Latin American movie won the Academy Award in that category and both came from Argentina including most recently “The Secret in Their Eyes”. Unofficially, however, one could make the case that the first ever best foreign film Oscar for a Latin American movie was given over fifty years ago.
Up to that time, 1959’s “Black Orpheus” wasn’t the first movie based on the Greek legend of Orpheus and Eurydice but it was a unique adaptation from a play from Brazilian writer Vinícius de Moraes. Set in the in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro during Carnaval the film follows trolley conductor Orfeu who falls in love with a newcomer to the city, Eurydice. Their relationship becomes stronger despite Orfeu’s engagement to Mira and Eurydice constantly trying to run away from Death dressed in a stylized skeleton costume. Much like in Greek mythology, Death catches up to Eurydice and, thus, Orfeu travels to the underworld in order to get her back.
“Black Orpheus” is famed for its soundtrack that was composed by two little-known artists at the time: Antonio Carlos Jobim and Luiz Bonfá. Their work helped create greater worldwide attention to bossa nova music through several songs in the film like "Manhã de Carnaval" and "A Felicidade".
Though “Black Orpheus” was based on de Moraes’ play, co-produced by Brazil’s Tupan Filmes, shot in Rio with mostly Brazilian actors and spoken in Portuguese, the French government submitted the film as its official entry to the Academy Awards. Since only one film can be nominated per country in the best foreign film category, France was recognized as the recipient of the Oscar. (The movie won the 1961 BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Language and was Brazil credited together with fellow co-producers France and Italy).
Film critics then and now have mostly looked favorably upon “Black Orpheus” though its depiction of dark-skinned, happy-go-lucky Brazilians did not sit well with some viewers. Then-university student Barack Obama acknowledged that the movie was his mother’s favorite film yet he found it to be exploitative. Musician Caetano Veloso remembers the less than favorable reaction in Brazil:
Up to that time, 1959’s “Black Orpheus” wasn’t the first movie based on the Greek legend of Orpheus and Eurydice but it was a unique adaptation from a play from Brazilian writer Vinícius de Moraes. Set in the in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro during Carnaval the film follows trolley conductor Orfeu who falls in love with a newcomer to the city, Eurydice. Their relationship becomes stronger despite Orfeu’s engagement to Mira and Eurydice constantly trying to run away from Death dressed in a stylized skeleton costume. Much like in Greek mythology, Death catches up to Eurydice and, thus, Orfeu travels to the underworld in order to get her back.
“Black Orpheus” is famed for its soundtrack that was composed by two little-known artists at the time: Antonio Carlos Jobim and Luiz Bonfá. Their work helped create greater worldwide attention to bossa nova music through several songs in the film like "Manhã de Carnaval" and "A Felicidade".
Though “Black Orpheus” was based on de Moraes’ play, co-produced by Brazil’s Tupan Filmes, shot in Rio with mostly Brazilian actors and spoken in Portuguese, the French government submitted the film as its official entry to the Academy Awards. Since only one film can be nominated per country in the best foreign film category, France was recognized as the recipient of the Oscar. (The movie won the 1961 BAFTA Award for Best Foreign Language and was Brazil credited together with fellow co-producers France and Italy).
Film critics then and now have mostly looked favorably upon “Black Orpheus” though its depiction of dark-skinned, happy-go-lucky Brazilians did not sit well with some viewers. Then-university student Barack Obama acknowledged that the movie was his mother’s favorite film yet he found it to be exploitative. Musician Caetano Veloso remembers the less than favorable reaction in Brazil:
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Alfonso Cuarón Captures Historic Oscar
Alfonso Cuarón of Mexico won the Academy Award for Best
Director in recognition of his work for the space thriller Gravity.
Cuarón also thanked Gravity's actors and crew including his son, Jonás, who helped co-write the film that won seven Oscars tonight.
Earlier in the evening, Lupita Nyong'o captured the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her portrayal of Patsey in 12 Years a Slave.
"No matter where you're from, your dreams are valid," was the inspirational message said by Nyong'o after receiving the Oscar.
"It doesn't escape me for one moment that so much joy in my life is due to so much pain in someone else's" added Nyong'o who won the Oscar one day after her thirty-first birthday.
Born in Mexico City, Nyong'o lived in Mexico and was reportedly named after the Virgin of Guadalupe. She was nearly the age of one when her parents took her to Kenya but return to the Latin American nation when she was sixteen-years-old in order to learn Spanish.
"I've seen others fight over my nationality but I'm Kenyan and Mexican at the same time. That's why I insist that I'm Mexican-Kenyan and I love carne asada tacos", Nyong'o said prior to tonight's ceremony.
Prior to her breakout role in the film that won the Best Picture Oscar, Nyong'o worked on the production crew of several films. One of these movies was 2005 drama The Constant Gardner that was directed by Fernando Meirelles of Brazil.
“Thanks to you mom; I wouldn’t be here it weren’t for you,” Cuarón
said in Spanish as he made history by becoming the first Latin American to win
the Oscar for top director.
The 52-year-old also was one of the two winners of the Oscar
for Best Editing for Gravity, a movie
that helped him capture best director honors at the BAFTAs and Golden
Globes.
Cuarón also served as director for 1995 drama A Little Princess, 2001 coming-of-age
tale Y Tu Mamá También and 2004
fantasy Harry Potter and the Prisoner of
Azkaban amongst others.
Earlier in the evening, Lupita Nyong'o captured the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her portrayal of Patsey in 12 Years a Slave.
"No matter where you're from, your dreams are valid," was the inspirational message said by Nyong'o after receiving the Oscar.
"It doesn't escape me for one moment that so much joy in my life is due to so much pain in someone else's" added Nyong'o who won the Oscar one day after her thirty-first birthday.
Born in Mexico City, Nyong'o lived in Mexico and was reportedly named after the Virgin of Guadalupe. She was nearly the age of one when her parents took her to Kenya but return to the Latin American nation when she was sixteen-years-old in order to learn Spanish.
"I've seen others fight over my nationality but I'm Kenyan and Mexican at the same time. That's why I insist that I'm Mexican-Kenyan and I love carne asada tacos", Nyong'o said prior to tonight's ceremony.
Prior to her breakout role in the film that won the Best Picture Oscar, Nyong'o worked on the production crew of several films. One of these movies was 2005 drama The Constant Gardner that was directed by Fernando Meirelles of Brazil.
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Nuestro Cine: “Narco Cultura”
This morning the finalists to the upcoming Oscars were announced and the Alfonso Cuarón-directed “Gravity” received ten nominations in categories like Best Picture and Best Director. While the Academy honored the Mexican-born Cuarón and his daring stroller set in outer space, films from Latin American were snubbed and will not be up for the Oscars.
Despite strong submissions like a Peruvian film set in a stark Lima of the future or an uplifting drama examining a Chilean divorcee’s plunge into romance, no movies from the Americas made it to the shortlist for Best Foreign Language Film. The Uruguayan movie “Anina” was wonderfully drawn and had a charming plot but was not chosen as a finalist for Best Animated Feature Film.
Similar to “Heli,” Mexico’s pick for Best Foreign Language Film, “Narco Cultura” examines the death and destruction caused by drug violence in that country. Yet the documentary differs in that it also looks at the appeal that the drug culture has via musicians and their narcocorrido songs. The film depicts the glorification of drug traffickers as modern day Robin Hoods through music with lyrics like “With an AK-47 and a bazooka on my shoulder/ Cross my path and I’ll chop your head off/ We’re bloodthirsty, crazy and we like to kill.” This is contrasted with the testimony of a Ciudad Juarez crime scene investigator who has attended the funerals of several of his colleagues murdered while working by drug gangs.
Below the page break is the trailer to “Narco Cultura”, which was not selected as a finalist in the top documentary category at the Oscars:
Despite strong submissions like a Peruvian film set in a stark Lima of the future or an uplifting drama examining a Chilean divorcee’s plunge into romance, no movies from the Americas made it to the shortlist for Best Foreign Language Film. The Uruguayan movie “Anina” was wonderfully drawn and had a charming plot but was not chosen as a finalist for Best Animated Feature Film.
Similar to “Heli,” Mexico’s pick for Best Foreign Language Film, “Narco Cultura” examines the death and destruction caused by drug violence in that country. Yet the documentary differs in that it also looks at the appeal that the drug culture has via musicians and their narcocorrido songs. The film depicts the glorification of drug traffickers as modern day Robin Hoods through music with lyrics like “With an AK-47 and a bazooka on my shoulder/ Cross my path and I’ll chop your head off/ We’re bloodthirsty, crazy and we like to kill.” This is contrasted with the testimony of a Ciudad Juarez crime scene investigator who has attended the funerals of several of his colleagues murdered while working by drug gangs.
Below the page break is the trailer to “Narco Cultura”, which was not selected as a finalist in the top documentary category at the Oscars:
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Nuestro Cine: Timeless Love
Last month we looked at several films vying for this year’s best foreign film Academy Award from Latin American countries including animated children’s film “Anina” from Uruguay. Though “Anina” apparently filled the requirements to be nominated for Best Animated Feature Film it was not among the nineteen submissions to that category.
Among the nominees are big-budget entries like "Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2" and "Monsters University" along with the final film from acclaimed Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki. The only Latin American film among the eligible Best Animated features is an entry from Brazil: “Rio 2096: A Story of Love and Fury” (“Uma História de Amor e Fúria”).
Set during four different periods of Brazilian history, the drama depicts the adventures of the 600-year-old Immortal Warrior as he courts the love of Janina. The couple encounters great obstacles throughout the centuries such as slavery in the nineteenth century and a war over water in the future.
Directed by Luiz Bolognesi, “Rio 2096” won the prize for best feature film at the prestigious Annecy International Animation Film Festival last June. But will the film be selected as a finalist by the Academy? See for yourselves by viewing the film’s trailer below the page break:
Among the nominees are big-budget entries like "Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2" and "Monsters University" along with the final film from acclaimed Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki. The only Latin American film among the eligible Best Animated features is an entry from Brazil: “Rio 2096: A Story of Love and Fury” (“Uma História de Amor e Fúria”).
Set during four different periods of Brazilian history, the drama depicts the adventures of the 600-year-old Immortal Warrior as he courts the love of Janina. The couple encounters great obstacles throughout the centuries such as slavery in the nineteenth century and a war over water in the future.
Directed by Luiz Bolognesi, “Rio 2096” won the prize for best feature film at the prestigious Annecy International Animation Film Festival last June. But will the film be selected as a finalist by the Academy? See for yourselves by viewing the film’s trailer below the page break:
Monday, October 14, 2013
Nuestro Cine: Silence Isn’t Golden
Our final “Nuestro Cine” entry on the movies vying for top foreign film Oscar is from Brazil and is reminiscent of the Spanish-language saying: “Ojos vemos, corazones no sabemos.” (This can roughly be translated into “We don’t know in our hearts what we see with our eyes.”)
“Neighbouring Sounds” (“O Som ao Redor”) is set in what appears to be a safe and wealthy residential area of Recife. This perception is flipped around, however, with the hiring of a private security firm tasked with patrolling the neighborhood. The film gradually exposes the contradictions, tensions and complex relationships among residents of varying social and economic levels. As mentioned in the New York Times, the film thus becomes “a thriller without a plot” where “no one can quite see or hear what is coming, but something is out there, just on the other side of the whatever we think keeps us safe”.
“Neighbouring Sounds” has received scores of positive reviews from critics that have called the film “absorbing and extremely promising”, “incredibly bold” and a “remarkable, understated fable.” Plenty of praise has also been given towards Kleber Mendonça Filho, the ex-movie critic who made his feature film directorial debut with “Neighbouring Sounds.”
Despite the high acclaim received by “Neighbouring Sounds,” Mendonça has apparently taken it all in stride.
“The Oscars are all metaphysical,” he recently said to the Brazilian press. “I cannot say if we will be a finalist or even if we will win. It’s no use trying to push the film as if it were trying to move uphill. The best thing to do is let it run on its own.”
Below the page break is the film trailer for “Neighbouring Sounds” where you can decide for yourself if the critical praise is accurate or not:
“Neighbouring Sounds” (“O Som ao Redor”) is set in what appears to be a safe and wealthy residential area of Recife. This perception is flipped around, however, with the hiring of a private security firm tasked with patrolling the neighborhood. The film gradually exposes the contradictions, tensions and complex relationships among residents of varying social and economic levels. As mentioned in the New York Times, the film thus becomes “a thriller without a plot” where “no one can quite see or hear what is coming, but something is out there, just on the other side of the whatever we think keeps us safe”.
“Neighbouring Sounds” has received scores of positive reviews from critics that have called the film “absorbing and extremely promising”, “incredibly bold” and a “remarkable, understated fable.” Plenty of praise has also been given towards Kleber Mendonça Filho, the ex-movie critic who made his feature film directorial debut with “Neighbouring Sounds.”
Despite the high acclaim received by “Neighbouring Sounds,” Mendonça has apparently taken it all in stride.
“The Oscars are all metaphysical,” he recently said to the Brazilian press. “I cannot say if we will be a finalist or even if we will win. It’s no use trying to push the film as if it were trying to move uphill. The best thing to do is let it run on its own.”
Below the page break is the film trailer for “Neighbouring Sounds” where you can decide for yourself if the critical praise is accurate or not:
Friday, October 11, 2013
Nuestro Cine: Glorious “Gloria”
What happens when a Chilean divorcee refuses to settle in to the loneliness of being elderly and finds romance with an older man? The answer can be seen in “Gloria”, a film from Chile that will represent that country in the race for the next Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
Directed by Sebatián Leilo, “Gloria” was described in Variety as “perceptive and unerringly sympathetic” and having “the makings of an arthouse sleeper.”
Unlike “No”, the 2012 movie that examined the campaign to defeat Gen. Augusto Pinochet in a 1988 national referendum, “Gloria” barely acknowledges the political divisions that continue to run deep in Chile.
“Chilean social context is sketched in with just a few brief verbal or visual nods to government disillusionment, popular unrest, corruption and the escalating cost of living. But the personal world depicted here is a universal one,” according to a review in “The Hollywood Reporter”.
The “universal” themes of love, isolation and freedom can be seen in the subtitled trailer for “Gloria” below the page break. (Video is slightly Not Safe for Work).
Directed by Sebatián Leilo, “Gloria” was described in Variety as “perceptive and unerringly sympathetic” and having “the makings of an arthouse sleeper.”
Unlike “No”, the 2012 movie that examined the campaign to defeat Gen. Augusto Pinochet in a 1988 national referendum, “Gloria” barely acknowledges the political divisions that continue to run deep in Chile.
“Chilean social context is sketched in with just a few brief verbal or visual nods to government disillusionment, popular unrest, corruption and the escalating cost of living. But the personal world depicted here is a universal one,” according to a review in “The Hollywood Reporter”.
The “universal” themes of love, isolation and freedom can be seen in the subtitled trailer for “Gloria” below the page break. (Video is slightly Not Safe for Work).
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Nuestro Cine: What’s in a Name?
In the past few days we have featured the Mexican, Peruvian and Venezuelan choices for the next Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. All of these films are intense dramas but today we will examine a more light-hearted movie from the Americas.
The animated children’s film “Anina” will represent Uruguay in the race for the top foreign film Oscar. Based on the short story “Anina Yatay Salas,” the movie’s titular character is a ten-year-old girl who is upset that her name is made up of three palindromes. After a fight with one of her classmates, Anina is punished by her principal and given a sealed black envelope that cannot be opened for seven days. As she tries to discover the contents of the mysterious envelope, Anina experiences numerous adventures that help her learn more about the world around her.
Though “Anina” is a co-production with Colombia, the film’s creators consider the film as “culturally Uruguayan” including depicting tradition meals, jargon and customs from the Southern Cone country.
“We recently screened ‘Anina’ in the Montevideo neighborhood of Casavalle and to see the kids applaud at the end of the film filled us with more than just pride,” said Germán Tejeira, producer of “Anina.”
Could “Anina” be the first animated movie to win the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film? Judge for yourselves by viewing the film’ trailer below the page break:
The animated children’s film “Anina” will represent Uruguay in the race for the top foreign film Oscar. Based on the short story “Anina Yatay Salas,” the movie’s titular character is a ten-year-old girl who is upset that her name is made up of three palindromes. After a fight with one of her classmates, Anina is punished by her principal and given a sealed black envelope that cannot be opened for seven days. As she tries to discover the contents of the mysterious envelope, Anina experiences numerous adventures that help her learn more about the world around her.
Though “Anina” is a co-production with Colombia, the film’s creators consider the film as “culturally Uruguayan” including depicting tradition meals, jargon and customs from the Southern Cone country.
“We recently screened ‘Anina’ in the Montevideo neighborhood of Casavalle and to see the kids applaud at the end of the film filled us with more than just pride,” said Germán Tejeira, producer of “Anina.”
Could “Anina” be the first animated movie to win the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film? Judge for yourselves by viewing the film’ trailer below the page break:
Monday, October 7, 2013
Nuestro Cine: Hellish “Heli”
Last week we looked at the Peruvian and Venezuelan choices for the next Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Today we’ll examine the pick from the Latin American country that has yet to win in that category despite multiple nominations.
Argentine movies “The Secret in Their Eyes” (“El secreto de sus ojos”) and “The Official Story” (“La Historia Oficial”) have been the only Latin American films to revived the Oscar for best fringe film. Among Latin American countries, Mexico is the one with the most nominations for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film with eight finalists starting with 1960’s “Macario” and the most recent one being 2010’s “Biutiful.”
Set amidst the backdrop of the drugs, violence and corruption in Mexico, crime drama “Heli” was selected to represent the country in the upcoming Oscars. The film marks the debut of several newcomers including Armando Espitia who plays the titular protagonist, a seventeen-year-old whose life is flipped upside down when he discards packages of cocaine that was hidden by a friend in his house.
“Heli” was featured at this year’s Cannes Film Festival where some critics reportedly walked out of the theater due to its brutal depiction of drug violence in Mexico. Yet director Amat Escalante strongly defended his movie and called the violence affecting areas of his country as a “virus that is hurting many people.”
“It’s a moral responsibility to show violence as it is: sad and disgraceful, very dirty and a nightmare,” he added.
Despite the criticism, Escalante became the third Mexican in the past seven years to win the Best Director prize at Cannes.
Does “Heli” deserve to be Mexico’s first winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film? See for yourselves by viewing the film’ trailer below the page break:
Argentine movies “The Secret in Their Eyes” (“El secreto de sus ojos”) and “The Official Story” (“La Historia Oficial”) have been the only Latin American films to revived the Oscar for best fringe film. Among Latin American countries, Mexico is the one with the most nominations for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film with eight finalists starting with 1960’s “Macario” and the most recent one being 2010’s “Biutiful.”
Set amidst the backdrop of the drugs, violence and corruption in Mexico, crime drama “Heli” was selected to represent the country in the upcoming Oscars. The film marks the debut of several newcomers including Armando Espitia who plays the titular protagonist, a seventeen-year-old whose life is flipped upside down when he discards packages of cocaine that was hidden by a friend in his house.
“Heli” was featured at this year’s Cannes Film Festival where some critics reportedly walked out of the theater due to its brutal depiction of drug violence in Mexico. Yet director Amat Escalante strongly defended his movie and called the violence affecting areas of his country as a “virus that is hurting many people.”
“It’s a moral responsibility to show violence as it is: sad and disgraceful, very dirty and a nightmare,” he added.
Despite the criticism, Escalante became the third Mexican in the past seven years to win the Best Director prize at Cannes.
Does “Heli” deserve to be Mexico’s first winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film? See for yourselves by viewing the film’ trailer below the page break:
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Nuestro Cine: Picking the Right Nominee
To be eligible for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, films must fulfill several requirements such as the "one-country-one-film" rule that stipulates that each country can only pick a single nominee per year. This rule is designed to help countries with minor film industries with major releases from established filmmaking nations. Yet the rule has come under fire in instances where worthwhile films are ignored in lieu of a country’s one nominee.
Last month, “Bad Hair” (“Pelo Malo”) received the Golden Shell as the top film at Spain’s San Sebastian Film Festival. The selection jury unanimously backed the Venezuelan-Peruvian and German production that depicts a “modern day cultural complexity and a young boy’s emerging identity guided by his single mother”.
“I made this film to liberate myself from the angst of so much intolerance. Being different isn’t a problem. Just the opposite. It is beautiful,” said Mariana Rondon, the Venezuelan director of “Bad Hair.”
Even though “Bad Hair” was eligible for nomination to the upcoming Oscars, “Breach in the Silence” ("Brecha en el silencio") was picked to represent Venezuela. The drama directed by brothers Andres and Luis Rodriguez spotlights domestic violence and its negative effects on families.
The movie has played at a number of festivals around the world though it has not garnered the same critical acclaim as “Bad Hair.” (As noted by the Latinos Post, one critic said that “'Breach in the Silence' is perhaps most notable for creating a lot of flash and noise, but providing little substance.”)
Was “Bad Hair” overlooked due to Rondon’s supposedly controversial remarks on “intolerance in a polarized country”? Or did the selection committee opt for a superior film with a better chance of being reaching the Academy’s shortlist? Judge for yourselves by viewing excepts from both films below the page break.
Last month, “Bad Hair” (“Pelo Malo”) received the Golden Shell as the top film at Spain’s San Sebastian Film Festival. The selection jury unanimously backed the Venezuelan-Peruvian and German production that depicts a “modern day cultural complexity and a young boy’s emerging identity guided by his single mother”.
“I made this film to liberate myself from the angst of so much intolerance. Being different isn’t a problem. Just the opposite. It is beautiful,” said Mariana Rondon, the Venezuelan director of “Bad Hair.”
Even though “Bad Hair” was eligible for nomination to the upcoming Oscars, “Breach in the Silence” ("Brecha en el silencio") was picked to represent Venezuela. The drama directed by brothers Andres and Luis Rodriguez spotlights domestic violence and its negative effects on families.
The movie has played at a number of festivals around the world though it has not garnered the same critical acclaim as “Bad Hair.” (As noted by the Latinos Post, one critic said that “'Breach in the Silence' is perhaps most notable for creating a lot of flash and noise, but providing little substance.”)
Was “Bad Hair” overlooked due to Rondon’s supposedly controversial remarks on “intolerance in a polarized country”? Or did the selection committee opt for a superior film with a better chance of being reaching the Academy’s shortlist? Judge for yourselves by viewing excepts from both films below the page break.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Nuestro Cine: Cleaning Up
We begin our look this week at some of the Latin American nominees for the upcoming Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
“The Cleaner” (“El Limpiador”) was chosen last week as Peru’s pick for top foreign language film at the Oscars.
According to the Peruvian Ministry of Culture, “The Cleaner” was selected “for its original proposal of an apocalyptic Lima, where loneliness and strain are shown through an effective use of cinematographic elements, expressing a city that slowly fades out.” This can be seen in the film’s trailer that shows gray colors, hushed vocals and slow movements by the protagonists:
The sci-fi drama focuses on the ties between a forensic cleaner and an orphaned boy he takes care of. Both of them develop a friendship despite the devastation caused by a mysterious epidemic in Lima.
“The Cleaner” (“El Limpiador”) was chosen last week as Peru’s pick for top foreign language film at the Oscars.
According to the Peruvian Ministry of Culture, “The Cleaner” was selected “for its original proposal of an apocalyptic Lima, where loneliness and strain are shown through an effective use of cinematographic elements, expressing a city that slowly fades out.” This can be seen in the film’s trailer that shows gray colors, hushed vocals and slow movements by the protagonists:
The sci-fi drama focuses on the ties between a forensic cleaner and an orphaned boy he takes care of. Both of them develop a friendship despite the devastation caused by a mysterious epidemic in Lima.
Friday, September 27, 2013
Nuestro Cine: Growing Up is Hard to Do
Next week we’ll look at several Latin American movies selected by their respective countries for the upcoming Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
Spain has won the award on four occasions with the most recent recipient being 2004’s “The Sea Inside” (“Mar adentro”). This year’s entry is "15 Anos y un día" (15 Years and a Day), a drama focusing on a teenager son who’s expelled from school and forced to live with his grandfather:
The movie stars renowned Spanish actress Maribel Verdu and was directed by Gracia Querejeta whose father, film producer Elias Querejeta, died in June.
Spain has won the award on four occasions with the most recent recipient being 2004’s “The Sea Inside” (“Mar adentro”). This year’s entry is "15 Anos y un día" (15 Years and a Day), a drama focusing on a teenager son who’s expelled from school and forced to live with his grandfather:
The movie stars renowned Spanish actress Maribel Verdu and was directed by Gracia Querejeta whose father, film producer Elias Querejeta, died in June.
Monday, February 25, 2013
”Inocente,” “Sugar Man” Nab Oscar Honors
A pair of documentaries with Latino protagonists were among the films that won at the latest edition of the Academy Awards.
The Oscar for Best Documentary Short went to ”Inocente,” a film on the life of nineteen-year-old Inocente Izucar.
As we mentioned last month, the documentary examines the many difficulties by the Mexican-born Izucar including homelessness, family abuse and living as undocumented immigrant. Nevertheless Izucar’s love for art was strong and it was through her involvement in a special therapeutic arts program that caught the attention of filmmakers Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine.
Since the film was made, Izucar has been able to exhibiting her work and selling them for several thousand dollars apiece. She has moved in to her own apartment though she continues to have a strained relationship with her family.
”Inocente” also made Oscars history by becoming the first film funded by the crowd-funded Kickstarter website to win an Academy Award.
Meanwhile, “Searching for Sugar Man” became the first music-oriented film to win the best-feature length documentary award since 1986.
The documentary examined the impact Mexican-American folk singer Rodriguez had in South Africa. His soulful and politically conscious music became anthems for the anti-apartheid movement although he was unaware of the effect his music had thousands of miles away. Thus, the film follows two South African fans of Rodriguez who look into the urban legend that Rodriguez died forgotten and abandoned.
Much like Izucar and “Inocente”, “Searching for Sugar Man” has helped Rodriguez by resurrecting his career including recently completing a tour of South Africa. In contrast to Izucar, however, Rodriguez opted to “stay home in Detroit” and watch the Oscars on TV according to one of the film’s producers.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Report: Pinochet Wanted to Defy “No” Vote
Among the finalists for top foreign film at tonight's Oscars is “No,” which is based on the successful campaign that beat Chilean strongman Augusto Pinochet in a 1988 plebiscite. The campaign’s efforts may have nearly been in vain according to recently declassified documents.
Several papers uncovered by the U.S. National Security Archive (NSA) showed that Pinochet was very reluctant to relinquish power in the hours before and after his electoral defeat.
"I'm not leaving, no matter what," he reportedly told several of his closest advisers one day before the crucial vote was held. He also supposedly claimed that he planned to do "whatever was necessary to stay in power," which he obtained via a controversial coup d’état fifteen years before.
The NSA also revealed that although the U.S. government strongly supported the 1973 coup and the Pinochet regime, several agencies and diplomats gave there backing to the anti-Pinochet electoral campaign. As U.S. intelligence reports indicated before the plebiscite that Pinochet would consider using violence to stay in the presidency, officials tried to privately exert pressure on the Chilean government.
A U.S. Defense Department paper noted that Pinochet was “nearly apoplectic” as he headed towards a 56%-44% defeat. At a meeting hours after the polls closed the dictator sought the support of military commanders and “spoke of using the extraordinary powers to have the armed forces seize the capital.” They refused to go along with Pinochet’s power grab, however, and in the end he would admit defeat.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Nuestro Cine: The Artist
This morning the nominees for the 2013 Academy Awards were announced. Among those films that made it to their respective Oscar categories are Chilean film “No” and the feature documentary “Searching for Sugar Man” that focuses on Mexican-American folk singer Rodriguez. Another documentary that could win an Oscar highlights the work of a young Latino striving to speak out through her art.
“Inocente” is named after its main subject: undocumented immigrant Inocente Izucar. She has reportedly moved more than thirty times in nine years along with her mother and three brothers. Her nomadic lifestyle included stints in homeless shelters along with her family and occasionally living on the streets. Inocente also endured family abuse that led to the deportation of her father and a difficult relationship with her mother.
“When I was little, I didn’t think it was weird. But as I got older, I began to see that other kids at school had houses to live in. I didn’t tell people at school I was homeless. It was my secret,” she said to Fox News Latino.
It was during her brief period at the Monarch School for homeless kids where Inocente would find her true voice. Her colorful and vibrant artistic work caught the eyes of teachers and members of A Reason To Survive (ARTS), a non-profit program that organized therapeutic arts-based programs. Inocente’s creativity also captured the attention of filmmakers Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine who decided to rework their planned film on homeless youth to concentrate on Inocente.
Since the film was made three years ago, some aspects of Inocente’s life have changed for the better. She is able to support herself by selling her artwork for as much as $5000 apiece, which has allowed her to move into a small apartment in San Diego and continue painting. Despite the strained ties to her mom, Inocente has not stopped dreaming of a better future for herself and her family:
Inocente Official Trailer from Shine Global on Vimeo.
Video Source - Vimeo
Online Sources – The Latin Americanist, IMDB.com, Fox News Latino, NBC Latino
“Inocente” is named after its main subject: undocumented immigrant Inocente Izucar. She has reportedly moved more than thirty times in nine years along with her mother and three brothers. Her nomadic lifestyle included stints in homeless shelters along with her family and occasionally living on the streets. Inocente also endured family abuse that led to the deportation of her father and a difficult relationship with her mother.
“When I was little, I didn’t think it was weird. But as I got older, I began to see that other kids at school had houses to live in. I didn’t tell people at school I was homeless. It was my secret,” she said to Fox News Latino.
It was during her brief period at the Monarch School for homeless kids where Inocente would find her true voice. Her colorful and vibrant artistic work caught the eyes of teachers and members of A Reason To Survive (ARTS), a non-profit program that organized therapeutic arts-based programs. Inocente’s creativity also captured the attention of filmmakers Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine who decided to rework their planned film on homeless youth to concentrate on Inocente.
Since the film was made three years ago, some aspects of Inocente’s life have changed for the better. She is able to support herself by selling her artwork for as much as $5000 apiece, which has allowed her to move into a small apartment in San Diego and continue painting. Despite the strained ties to her mom, Inocente has not stopped dreaming of a better future for herself and her family:
“I want to join the circus,” she says. “I want to do trapeze…The documentary has opened many doors for me, and I’m sure there’ll be a lot more to come.”
She says she has learned through experience to just think about tomorrow, it’s easier that way. That’s her message to the other homeless kids out there.
“It can only get better,” says Inocente. “I have a lot of impossible dreams, but I still dream them.”“Inocente” has been featured in several film festivals and aired on MTV last August. Below is the trailer to the film that will be vying to win the Oscar for top short documentary at the Academy Awards ceremony on February 24th:
Inocente Official Trailer from Shine Global on Vimeo.
Video Source - Vimeo
Online Sources – The Latin Americanist, IMDB.com, Fox News Latino, NBC Latino
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Nuestro Cine: And the Oscar Goes To...
As we mentioned earlier this month, Demián Bichir of Mexico and Argentine-French actress Bérénice Bejo received Academy Award nominations and they could win the coveted gold statuette this Sunday.
2011 was a banner year for films from Latin America and included action flicks (Mexico's Miss Bala), "gaucho westerns" (Argentina's Aballay) and innovative thrillers (Uruguay's The Silent House). Nonetheless, movies from the region where unfortunately overlooked when the Academy selected its finalists for Best Foreign Film.
Could Chico and Rita capture top honors tonight in the Best Animated Film category? The love story between two Cuban musicians has an outside chance of winning over the likes of bigger box office draws such as Rango and Puss in Boots. But as we pointed out in 2010, Chico and Rita has a wonderful plot, rich animation and a soundtrack scored by celebrated Cuban pianist Bebo Valdés.
Check out the following clip for Chico and Rita and decide for yourself if it deserves Oscar honors tonight:
Update: Bichir, Bejo, and Chico and Rita did not win in their respective categories at Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony.
Online Sources - Wikipedia, IMDB.com, The Latin Americanist
Video Source - YouTube via VesCine1
2011 was a banner year for films from Latin America and included action flicks (Mexico's Miss Bala), "gaucho westerns" (Argentina's Aballay) and innovative thrillers (Uruguay's The Silent House). Nonetheless, movies from the region where unfortunately overlooked when the Academy selected its finalists for Best Foreign Film.
Could Chico and Rita capture top honors tonight in the Best Animated Film category? The love story between two Cuban musicians has an outside chance of winning over the likes of bigger box office draws such as Rango and Puss in Boots. But as we pointed out in 2010, Chico and Rita has a wonderful plot, rich animation and a soundtrack scored by celebrated Cuban pianist Bebo Valdés.
Check out the following clip for Chico and Rita and decide for yourself if it deserves Oscar honors tonight:
Update: Bichir, Bejo, and Chico and Rita did not win in their respective categories at Sunday's Academy Awards ceremony.
Online Sources - Wikipedia, IMDB.com, The Latin Americanist
Video Source - YouTube via VesCine1
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Nuestro Cine: Viva Violeta!
Last week Demián Bichir of Mexico and Argentine-French actress Bérénice Bejo received Academy Awards nominations in the categories of Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress, receptively. While the recognition of these Latin American actors was well deserved, the Academy sadly overlooked films from the region when choosing the finalists to the Best Foreign Film category. Not a single film from Latin America made the January shortlist, much less the list of five finalists.
Movies such as a tender tale of friendship from Cuba and a ripped-from-the-headlines story from Mexico where ignored by the Academy although Chile’s entry to the Oscars got a boost several days ago at the Sundance Film Festival.
According to the Santiago Times:
The following is the trailer to “Violeta Went to Heaven,” a film that celebrates the trials and tribulations of one of Chile’s most celebrated individuals:
Parra committed suicide forty-five years ago this Sunday though her influence has certainly lived on.
Video Source – YouTube via violetapelicula
Online Sources – Fox News Latino, The Latin Americanist, NPR, The Santiago Times
Movies such as a tender tale of friendship from Cuba and a ripped-from-the-headlines story from Mexico where ignored by the Academy although Chile’s entry to the Oscars got a boost several days ago at the Sundance Film Festival.
According to the Santiago Times:
“Violeta Went to Heaven,” directed by Andrés Wood, won best international picture for its devastating biopic about Violeta Parra, a Chilean folk musician and national icon whose songs encapsulate the fight for social equality in Chile.Meanwhile, Chilean film “Young and Wild”, which was the first work by director Marialys Rivas, won best international script at Sundance.
“It speaks well of the film that it can be appreciated outside of Chile,” Wood told La Tercera. “The award means “Violeta” will be distributed in U.S. so now more people will be able to appreciate it.”
In winning best international film, “Violeta” follows in the footsteps of Sebastian Silva’s “La Nana,” a Chilean production which delves into the dominant social hierarchies and prejudices of Latin American society. “La Nana” won the award in 2010.
The following is the trailer to “Violeta Went to Heaven,” a film that celebrates the trials and tribulations of one of Chile’s most celebrated individuals:
Parra committed suicide forty-five years ago this Sunday though her influence has certainly lived on.
Video Source – YouTube via violetapelicula
Online Sources – Fox News Latino, The Latin Americanist, NPR, The Santiago Times
Friday, October 28, 2011
Nuestro Cine: Boo!
We hope to be back over the weekend with a few news and notes, while we'll resume next week our look at possible Latin American and Caribbean nominees for top foreign film at the upcoming Academy Awards.
With Halloween and the Day of the Dead being celebrated in a few days why not highlight a horror film?
The plot of Uruguayan flick “La Casa Muda” (“The Silent House”) can be boiled down to the following: father and daughter arrive at a creepy cottage, hear some noises coming from the upper floor and the father goes from room to room investigating the mysterious sounds. Yet the seventy-eight minute film unfolds in a unique way since it was allegedly shot in a single take. (Hence the tagline to the English-language movie poster: Real Fear in Real Time.”)
Adding to the film’s unique style was it’s very low budget ($6000) and that it was shot with a handheld digital camera. Furthermore, the film was purportedly based on real life events that took place in Uruguay in the 1940s.
“La Casa Muda” has a 76% rating on the Rotten Tomatoes website with critics praising it for aspects such as its score and filming in one take. The movie has also been featured in several international film festivals including the Cannes Film Festival. Meanwhile, English film critic and horror movie buff Mark Kermode gave a mixed review to the movie though he praised it for its “atmosphere.”
Below is the trailer for “La Casa Muda” where you can see for yourself if the film is gimmicky or spine tingling:
Video Source – YouTube users kermodeandmayo and CinemastarTV
Online Sources – imdb.com, Wikipedia, Rotten Tomatoes
With Halloween and the Day of the Dead being celebrated in a few days why not highlight a horror film?
The plot of Uruguayan flick “La Casa Muda” (“The Silent House”) can be boiled down to the following: father and daughter arrive at a creepy cottage, hear some noises coming from the upper floor and the father goes from room to room investigating the mysterious sounds. Yet the seventy-eight minute film unfolds in a unique way since it was allegedly shot in a single take. (Hence the tagline to the English-language movie poster: Real Fear in Real Time.”)
Adding to the film’s unique style was it’s very low budget ($6000) and that it was shot with a handheld digital camera. Furthermore, the film was purportedly based on real life events that took place in Uruguay in the 1940s.
“La Casa Muda” has a 76% rating on the Rotten Tomatoes website with critics praising it for aspects such as its score and filming in one take. The movie has also been featured in several international film festivals including the Cannes Film Festival. Meanwhile, English film critic and horror movie buff Mark Kermode gave a mixed review to the movie though he praised it for its “atmosphere.”
Below is the trailer for “La Casa Muda” where you can see for yourself if the film is gimmicky or spine tingling:
Video Source – YouTube users kermodeandmayo and CinemastarTV
Online Sources – imdb.com, Wikipedia, Rotten Tomatoes
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Nuestro Cine: Marvelous Montevideo
Last week we examined submissions from Cuba and Argentina vying to win top foreign film honors at the upcoming Academy Awards. In the next few days will look at other entries from Latin America and the Caribbean including a Brazilian blockbuster and a based-on-a-true-story movie out of Mexico.
Today, however, we would like to highlight a submission from a Europe country partly set in Latin America. "Montevideo, God Bless You!" is the translated title of the official entry from Serbia that focuses on the participation of the Yugoslavian national soccer team in the 1930 World Cup. The film shows the trials and tribulations of some of the players who come from different social and ethnic backgrounds in order to represent their country at the tournament that was hosted by Uruguay.
"Montevideo" was based on a novel by the same name by Vladimir Stankovic who was inspired after watching the 2005 film "The Game of Their Lives". Thus, the two movies have their similarities including a plot with a romanticized depiction of events.
"Montevideo" was a box office smash in Serbia with plans for a sequel to be released later this year and a TV series in the works. Check out the trailer below and decide if the film could be a dark horse contender to win the coveted Oscar:
Video Source - Via YouTube user intermedianetwork
Online Sources - The Latin Americanist, imdb.com, Wikipedia, Screen Daily
Today, however, we would like to highlight a submission from a Europe country partly set in Latin America. "Montevideo, God Bless You!" is the translated title of the official entry from Serbia that focuses on the participation of the Yugoslavian national soccer team in the 1930 World Cup. The film shows the trials and tribulations of some of the players who come from different social and ethnic backgrounds in order to represent their country at the tournament that was hosted by Uruguay.
"Montevideo" was based on a novel by the same name by Vladimir Stankovic who was inspired after watching the 2005 film "The Game of Their Lives". Thus, the two movies have their similarities including a plot with a romanticized depiction of events.
"Montevideo" was a box office smash in Serbia with plans for a sequel to be released later this year and a TV series in the works. Check out the trailer below and decide if the film could be a dark horse contender to win the coveted Oscar:
Video Source - Via YouTube user intermedianetwork
Online Sources - The Latin Americanist, imdb.com, Wikipedia, Screen Daily
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Nuestro Cine: Churrasco western
Argentine films “La Historia Oficial (“The Official Story”) and "El Secreto de sus Ojos" ("The Secret In Their Eyes") have been the only Latin American movies to win the best foreign film prize at the Academy Awards. Could an atypical western become the third Argentine movie to win the coveted statuette?
On first glance “Aballay, El Hombre Sin Miedo” (Aballay, The Man Without Fear”) appears to be an average western though much like “El Secreto…” it may be interpreted as a psychological drama. The titular character is a gaucho, or typical Argentine cowboy, who first met a child named Julian who he met as a boy hiding from the attackers of a stagecoach raid. Ten years later, Julian plots for revenge against those who killed his parents in the raid and only Aballay, the saint-like protector of a town Julian stumbles upon, can help him. But Julian may’ve bargained for more than he can handle with Aballay who was haunted by his chance meeting with Julian as a child.
“Aballay…” was a surprise choice to represent Argentina for the top foreign film Oscar and was picked ahead of the comedy “Un cuento Chino” (“Chinese Takeaway”). Despite only 20,000 people seeing “Aballay…” during its first month in the theaters, the film received plenty of critical praise as well as recognition in local film festivals. “Aballay…” may be a long shot to be nominated for the Oscar but that should not detract from a well-acted and shot film set in the mountains and deserts of Tucuman province:
Video Source – Via YouTube user ChamameSoldierVideos
Online Sources – IMDB, Boston.com
On first glance “Aballay, El Hombre Sin Miedo” (Aballay, The Man Without Fear”) appears to be an average western though much like “El Secreto…” it may be interpreted as a psychological drama. The titular character is a gaucho, or typical Argentine cowboy, who first met a child named Julian who he met as a boy hiding from the attackers of a stagecoach raid. Ten years later, Julian plots for revenge against those who killed his parents in the raid and only Aballay, the saint-like protector of a town Julian stumbles upon, can help him. But Julian may’ve bargained for more than he can handle with Aballay who was haunted by his chance meeting with Julian as a child.
“Aballay…” was a surprise choice to represent Argentina for the top foreign film Oscar and was picked ahead of the comedy “Un cuento Chino” (“Chinese Takeaway”). Despite only 20,000 people seeing “Aballay…” during its first month in the theaters, the film received plenty of critical praise as well as recognition in local film festivals. “Aballay…” may be a long shot to be nominated for the Oscar but that should not detract from a well-acted and shot film set in the mountains and deserts of Tucuman province:
Video Source – Via YouTube user ChamameSoldierVideos
Online Sources – IMDB, Boston.com
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