Of the 92 submissions accepted for Best International Feature Film (the Oscar formerly known as Best Foreign Language Film), Bong Joon Hoâs Parasite is by far the most widely seen. In fact, itâs so admired that the South Korean stunner has an excellent shot at vaulting into the Best Director and Best Picture categories.
The only other submission with significant U.S. visibility is Pedro Almodóvarâs Pain and Glory, which means there are 90 excellent movies from around the globe awaiting your discovery. Intrigued? Fifteen (including the Almodóvar) screen Jan. 3-9 in the annual For Your Consideration series at the Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael.
Some of the titles chosen by curators João Federici and Karen Davis will receive theatrical releases: Brazilâs separated sisters saga Invisible Life opens Jan. 3, Italyâs Cosa Nostra history The Traitor arrives Feb. 7, and Russiaâs post-war portrait Beanpole and Swedenâs gay-themed And Then We Danced both open Feb. 21. The Czech Republicâs The Painted Bird, adapted from Jerzy Kozinskiâs novel, will probably find its way into theaters. In addition, the U.K.âs Malawi-set The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is on Netflix. (To be sure, itâs an even more powerful experience on the big screen.)
Still from ‘Antigone.’ (Courtesy of California Film Institute)
Perhaps itâs a coincidence (spoiler: itâs not) that a trio of acclaimed dramas propelled by female protagonists donât have U.S. distribution. For Your Consideration may be your only chance to see Algeriaâs Papicha (Jan. 8), which follows a young womanâs determined pursuit of a fully expressed life and career in dangerous times. Ditto for Canadaâs Antigone (Jan. 8), which transposes Sophoclesâ female-fueled tragedy to present-day Montreal. Moroccoâs Adam (Jan. 9) portrays the unexpected connection between a grief-paralyzed widow and a pregnant homeless woman.
Five of the Smith Rafaelâs 15 selectionsâThe Painted Bird, Beanpole, Pain and Glory, Parasite and Hungaryâs Those Who Remained (Jan. 5)âmade the 10-film shortlist for the Academy Award. While thatâs one measure of Davis and Federiciâs handicapping skills, I mention it primarily for those who take their Oscar preparations very, very seriously.
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