Iran scores first Oscar nomination in 14 years
Source: Agencies |
January 26, 2012, Thursday
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IRAN scored its first foreign language film Oscar nomination in 14 years on Tuesday, dominating a field of movies with subjects ranging from Jewish refugees in wartime Poland to corruption in the Flemish beef industry.
"A Separation," Iranian director's Asghar Farhadi's searing domestic drama, also scored a nod for best original screenplay, boosting the movie's chances for Oscar gold to crown what already has been a critically acclaimed run at Western film festivals.
The foreign language film nominees were rounded out by Israeli film "Footnote," "In Darkness" by Polish director Agniezska Holland, Canadian entry "Monsieur Lazhar" and "Bullhead" from Belgium.
But expected titles like Spanish director Pedro Almodovar's "The Skin I Live In" and Chinese film "Flowers of War," starring Christian Bale, were edged out of an often difficult to predict field of contenders.
"From a personal point of view, it means that being local and being universal are not opposite of each other," "Separation" director Farhadi told Reuters about the nomination, speaking from Paris where he is working on his next film.
"For Iranian filmmakers in my country, it means that the power of cinema is still superior to that of political problems," Farhadi said.
In recent years, the Iranian government has severely restricted some of its most acclaimed writers and directors, including film director Jafar Panahi, known for his gritty films that examine social issues in the Islamic Republic. He was jailed in 2010 and banned from making movies or traveling abroad by an Iranian court. Some of Hollywood's most influential names, including Steven Spielberg, have called for Panahi's release.
More recently in 2011, Iranian officials arrested four filmmakers on suspicion of selling their films to foreign broadcasters, and sentenced Iranian actress Marzieh Vafamehr, who appeared in "My Tehran for Sale," to 90 lashes and a year in prison, which was later overturned by an appeals court.
"A Separation," about an Iranian couple going through a divorce, won the top prize at Berlin's film festival in February last year, and a US Golden Globe last week. It is the first Iranian film to be Oscar-nominated since 1998's "Children of Heaven."
"A Separation," Iranian director's Asghar Farhadi's searing domestic drama, also scored a nod for best original screenplay, boosting the movie's chances for Oscar gold to crown what already has been a critically acclaimed run at Western film festivals.
The foreign language film nominees were rounded out by Israeli film "Footnote," "In Darkness" by Polish director Agniezska Holland, Canadian entry "Monsieur Lazhar" and "Bullhead" from Belgium.
But expected titles like Spanish director Pedro Almodovar's "The Skin I Live In" and Chinese film "Flowers of War," starring Christian Bale, were edged out of an often difficult to predict field of contenders.
"From a personal point of view, it means that being local and being universal are not opposite of each other," "Separation" director Farhadi told Reuters about the nomination, speaking from Paris where he is working on his next film.
"For Iranian filmmakers in my country, it means that the power of cinema is still superior to that of political problems," Farhadi said.
In recent years, the Iranian government has severely restricted some of its most acclaimed writers and directors, including film director Jafar Panahi, known for his gritty films that examine social issues in the Islamic Republic. He was jailed in 2010 and banned from making movies or traveling abroad by an Iranian court. Some of Hollywood's most influential names, including Steven Spielberg, have called for Panahi's release.
More recently in 2011, Iranian officials arrested four filmmakers on suspicion of selling their films to foreign broadcasters, and sentenced Iranian actress Marzieh Vafamehr, who appeared in "My Tehran for Sale," to 90 lashes and a year in prison, which was later overturned by an appeals court.
"A Separation," about an Iranian couple going through a divorce, won the top prize at Berlin's film festival in February last year, and a US Golden Globe last week. It is the first Iranian film to be Oscar-nominated since 1998's "Children of Heaven."
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