French and Italian finalists for Oscar entries – Blog

by Nathaniel R

The selection of France and Italy’s contenders in the Oscars Best International Feature Film race is always a big deal; the two countries dominated the category thoroughly throughout the 20th century, and they’re still the absolute leaders in the statistics, 24 years into the new century. France announced an official list of four finalists. We also know which films Italy is choosing from, though there are no “finalists” per se, since they skip that step and go straight to the voting. Let’s take a look at the possibilities after the jump…

FRANCE

• Everything we imagine is light -Payal Kapadia
  Kapadia’s drama about nurses who travel to a seaside resort was a critical hit at Cannes (and won the Grand Prix), but the selection committee (or Oscar voters) may not think it’s French enough. Yes, it’s a French co-production, but it involves multiple countries and has an Indian director and cast. In Hindi, Malayalam and Marathi
• The Count of Monte Cristo -Matthiew Delaporte
  Pierre Ninney stars in this costume drama, an adaptation of Dumas’ famous novel that has been adapted many times.
• Emilia Perez -Jacques Audiard
  Even if France doesn’t select this Cannes Prize winner, the biggest downside is that the cast… is not French is about Mexico and drug cartels. If Netflix uses its marketing muscle, it could easily become an Oscar contender.
• Misericordia -Alain Guiraudie
  Guiraudie’s latest film, which premiered at Cannes and was up for the Queer Palm, is about a man who attends his boss’s funeral and gets involved in dark, violent affairs. Guiraudie has been a director for a while, but his career really took off with the attention-grabbing explicit gay thriller Stranger at the lake.

France, the all-time Oscar nomination leader, will make its choice between these titles on September 18. We suspect that the Emilia Perez given Audiard’s celebrated career. He represented France in 2009 with the Oscar-nominated modern classic, A prophet.

ITALY
They watch 19 films that…

• 100 SundaysAntonio Albanese
  A drama about a shipyard worker planning his daughter’s wedding reception
• TrailerDaniele Costantini
• BattlefieldGianni Amelio
  Amelio was previously filed for The keys to the house (2004). His latest film, a World War I drama starring Alessandro Borghi as a doctor, premiered in Venice.
• To trustDaniele Luchetti
  Drama about the affair between a teacher and a former student.
• Food for profitGiulia Innocenzi and Pablo D’Amrbosi
  A documentary about the problematic intensive livestock farming.
• Greetings!Margherita Vicario
  This historical drama about orphans at a music school premiered at the Berlinale.
• How children rollLoris Lai
  A surfing drama about two children, one Palestinian and one Israeli, set in 2023.
• The House of NinettaLina Sastri
  A drama about mothers and daughters.
• Life apartMarco Tullio Giordana
  Giordana was previously nominated for The hundred steps (2000)
• luboGiorgio Diritti
  Franz Rogowski stars in this drama set during World War II about a street performer whose children are taken away from him as part of a re-education program.
• My place is hereCristiano Bortone and Daniela Porto
  A drama about an unhappily married woman and her gay boyfriend, a wedding planner
• The other way aroundAlessandro Garilli
• Palace CowardMichele Riondino
  Drama about a mole in a factory who spies on his colleagues.
• ParthenopePaolo Sorrentino
  A fantasy starring Stefania Sandrelli and Gary Oldman. Sorrentino won in this category with The Great Beauty (2013) and was nominated again for The hand of God (2021) so Parthenope is certainly a possibility, despite the fact that it did not cause much of a stir in Cannes.
• Taxi Monamour, Ciro De Caro
• The time it takesFrancesca Comencini
  Comencini’s sister Cristina was nominated for Don’t tell (2005), but Francesca has yet to be selected.
• VermilionMaura Delpero
  Delpero’s drama, set in a mountain village in 1944, was a sensation with critics and won the Grand Jury Prize in Venice.
• VolareMargherita Buy
  Actress Margherita Buy makes her directorial debut. She also plays a woman who is afraid of flying.
• ZamoraBlack Marcore

Italy, the absolute leader in Oscar winnings, will announce its official entry on September 24. We suspect Vermilion is the best movie, but they’ve surprised us before.

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