Foreign Language Film
The talking point here is why the nomination snubbed many good films from last year (where’s Pablo Larrain’s Neruda, Paul Verhoeven’s Elle, Brilliante Mendoza’s Ma’ Rosa?). Now the nominees are: Under sandet ( Land Of Mine) from Denmark; En man som heter Ove (A Man Called Ove) from Sweden; Forushande ( The Salesman) from Iran; Tanna from Australia; and Toni Erdmann from Germany.)
It’s a no-brainer: Toni Erdmann, directed by Maren Ade, is the best film, not just in this category but of the entirety of the year (too bad it has no Thai distributor). The story of a prankster father who tries to inject some life into his uptight corporate-type daughter, the film is moving and funny, always unpredictable in tone and plot, and is also a wry commentary on Europe, its labour market and how corporate life can dehumanise workers.
Forushande, by Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, is now showing in cinemas. It is a skilfully written domestic drama about the moral quandary in a couple’s lives after they’ve moved in to a new apartment. Farhadi won this category six years ago with the superior Jodaeiye Nader az Simin ( A Separation) — and while Forushande has the intensity of life’s unexpected drama, it feels over-calculated. Still, the controversy over Donald Trump’s ban of Iranian citizens, which prompted Farhadi and his actress to shun the event, may tip the scale in favour of the film.
A dark horse is En man som heter Ove. I don’t know why, just a hunch. Hopefully it’s wrong.
Toni Erdmann should win. I think it will.