Argentine movie wins Best Foreign Film Oscar (Updated)

For only the second time ever a Latin American film won the Academy Award for top foreign movie.

Argentina's "El Secreto de sus Ojos" ("The Secret In Their Eyes") beat out entries from countries like France and Germany to win the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. "Viva Argentina!" declared director Juan José Campanella after accepting the statuette along with other members of the production. Campanella also briefly proclaimed his solidarity with the victims of the recent earthquake in Chile though his comments were abruptly cut off. (Update: According to Argentina's Clarin.com Campanella sent "a hug to my Chilean brothers".)

"El Secreto de sus Ojos" was one of the five finalists along with the gripping Peruvian drama "The Milk of Sorrow" (La Teta Asustada). In the end, the Argentine thriller joined another movie from that country- 1985's "La Historia Oficial" ("The Official Story")- to be recognized by the Academy as the Best Foreign Film.

The following is the trailer to "El Secreto de sus Ojos". See for yourself why this movie won top honors tonight:

Online Sources - TIME, YouTube, The Latin Americanist, Buenos Aires Herald

Cine Martes: “La historia oficial”

Last Tuesday we looked at a pair of Latin American films- Argentina’s “El Secreto de Sus Ojos " and Peru’s “La Teta Asustada”- that were named to the the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar shortlist. This morning both these movies were chosen along with three other flicks as finalists for the Academy’s top foreign film. They should be considered as strong candidates; “La Teta Asustada” won top honors at last year’s Berlin Film Festival, for instance.

No foreign language film has ever won the Oscar for best picture and that infamous streak was continued today. This has not diminished the enthusiasm of the director of "El Secreto de Sus Ojos", however:

(Juan Jose) Campanella, whose "Son of the Bride" was nominated for an Oscar in 2002, told Argentine cable channel Todo Noticias he was stunned by Tuesday's news.

"I cannot believe it," he told the channel in Spanish. "You go through the process with so much anxiety that when it happens the news is a relief."

Movies like "Pan's Labyrinth", "Alsino and the Condor", and "Central Station", have been nominated to the Best Foreign Language Film category but only once has a Latin American film won it. Argentina’s “La historia oficial” (“The Official Version”) won in 1985. The emotional drama centers on a possible illegal adoption resulting from the Dirty War and was made as Argentines slowly started coming to grips with one of the ugliest chapters in the country’s history:

Online Sources- The Latin Americanist, CNN, Canadian Press, Wikipedia, IMDB, YouTube

Cine Martes: South American flicks make Oscar shortlist

A pair of Latin American films made it to the Academy Awards shortlist for the top foreign film.

Argentina’s “El Secreto de Sus Ojos” (“The Secret in Their Eyes") and Peru’s “La Teta Asustada” ("The Milk of Sorrow") were named last week along with seven other flicks to the list of semifinalists for the coveted prize.

“La Teta Asustada” won the Golden Bear at last year’s Berlin Film Festival and is vying to be Peru’s first ever finalist for the best foreign-language film Oscar. The movie’s title (which translates to "The Scared Tit”) is based on the idea that the protagonist’s mother passes misery on to her daughter through breast milk:

“El Secreto de Sus Ojos” was described in one film review as a “riveting Argentine thriller spiked with witty dialogue and poignant love stories.” The film faces strong competition in entries like "Samson & Delilah" (Australia) and "Un Prophete" (France) but could be a dark horse candidate for Oscar voters.

The five finalists for the Oscar will be announced next Tuesday.

Online Sources- Variety, The Latin Americanist, YouTube, Hollywood Reporter

Today’s Video: Peru’s film triumph

Congratulations to the cast and crew of Peruvian movie “La Teta Asustada” which won top prize at the Berlin Film Festival. "I hope more women will be encouraged by this,” declared director Claudia Llosa after receiving the Golden Bear award for her film.

“La Teta Asustada” beat out entries like “The Messenger”, starring Woody Harrelson, and “My One and Only”, with Renee Zellweger.

The English title for the movie is "The Milk of Sorrow" though the precise translation of the Spanish title is “The Scared Tit.” Either title is appropriate for the moving film that centers on Fausta, a young woman who believes that she is ill due to the breast milk of raped women during Peru’s bloody armed conflict. Yet after her mother’s death Fausta must come to terms with her past and attempt to move forward:

In recent years the Berlin Film Festival has recognized outstanding Latin American films. Aside from “La Teta Asustada” Uruguay's “Gigante” earned three awards and co-won the Grand Prix Silver Bear prize. The 2007 Golden Bear award was won by Brazilian box office hit “Tropa De Elite” (“The Elite Squad”).

Online Sources- Guardian UK, The Latin Americanist, Reuters, imdb.com, BBC News