International Feature Oscar Contenders
The Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) has consistently done a commendable job at ensuring local Albertan and Canadian filmmakers have a platform to present their projects. However, this is not all that CIFF does well. Year after year, the festival brings forward some of the best feature films from around the globe (eg. Parasite, Close, etc.) and this year is no exception. In fact, the five films below can all be considered International Feature Oscar Contenders.
5. Fallen Leaves (FINLAND)
The film narrates the tale of Ansa, a supermarket shelf-stocker navigating a zero-hour contract, and Holappa, a sandblaster with a turbulent past. Their paths collide, leading to a unique relationship amidst the challenges of the harsher side of the welfare state.
Director: Aki Kaurismäki
Trailer: Watch Here
Release Date: Limited Release on November 17, 2023
More About the Film:
Fallen Leaves is Aki Kaurismäki’s fourth film in his “Proletariat” series (albeit 33 years later after the third). Like most of Kaurismäki’s films, this one is about as dry and deadpan as it comes. No, I don’t think you understand. There is literally one smile in the entire runtime. Some who are used to a more traditional emotional expression on screen might be taken out of the film by this. Still, for those who can appreciate the subtle absurdities without requiring a grandiose emotional catharsis, this should be right up your alley. The performances from Alma Pöysti and Jussi Vatanen are equally strong, as they both portray individuals struggling to put one foot in front of another while also opening themselves up to the possibility that there is something more to life. The backdrop of the film is set to somber news on the radio concerning the war in Ukraine. Aki Kaurismäki is no stranger to political commentary. While these radio broadcasts are rarely addressed explicitly in the film, they serve as a subtle reminder of the flaws of man and how quickly we allow ourselves to forget about uncomfortable realities. In this sense, the struggles of our central characters mirror this detached existence as a means of coping with the reality of their everyday.
Oscar Chances:
Fallen Leaves hit the festival circuit on a strong note, winning the Grand Jury Prize at Cannes. Aki Kaurismäki has also previously had a film nominated at the Academy Awards, with The Man Without a Past receiving a nod for Best Foreign Language Film in 2003. That being said, its buzz has died down significantly post-Cannes, and his slow, dry tone might not strike all the right chords with voters.
4. The Promised Land (DENMARK)
Ludvig Kahlen, a soldier in 1755, arrives on the barren Jutland heath with the goal of cultivating the land. However, he faces opposition from the merciless landowner, Frederik De Schinkel, leading to a dramatic clash of wills.
Director: Nikolaj Arcel
Trailer: Watch Here
Release Date: February 2, 2024
More About the Film:
Mads Mikkelsen is seemingly omnipresent around awards discussions in recent years, and as such, Nikolaj Arcel’s film The Promised Land is almost certainly relevant for the 96th Academy Awards. While Arcel does not break into any particularly new ground here, he still manages to create an epic period piece that entertains from start to finish. The film’s epic nature and another excellent performance from Mads Mikkelsen make The Promised Land a movie worth watching. Beyond the action and the violence, Arcel creates a deeply personal character study, highlighting the slow yet pervasive effects of greed and arrogance juxtaposed with the deeply inherent need for compassion and connection.
Oscar Chances:
Certainly not a traditional “0scar-bait” film, The Promised Land’s chances lie primarily on the shoulders of Mads Mikkelsen and the anticipatory hope that voters are looking for a large-scale epic instead of more traditionally slow and intimate projects. Arcel has also received an Oscar nomination previously for his 2013 film A Royal Affair. This latest period piece has a shot at replicating that success.
3. The Teachers’ Lounge (GERMANY)
When teacher Carla Nowak investigates a student suspected of theft, she becomes entangled between her ideals and the school system. The consequences threaten to break her as she navigates a challenging moral dilemma.
Director: İlker Çatak
Trailer: Watch Here
Release Date: TBD (2024)
More About the Film:
While The Teachers’ Lounge certainly has much to say about the state of the global education system, it is so much more than that. It is an exploration of institutionalization, discrimination, and social cliques, to name a few. At times, the score is a bit heavy-handed on “on-the-nose”, but regardless, Çatak is genuinely adept at creating tension and building complex characters whom we have no choice but to find empathy for.
Oscar Chances:
As a former teacher, I’m loving the classroom-based Oscar plays in the last few years. Denmark’s Oscar-winning Another Round from 2021 was one of my favourite films of the year, and The Teachers’ Lounge is another strong Oscar play. İlker Çatak is relatively young, at only 39 years old, which may play against him with this film, but he will be a director to watch for in the coming years. While its international presence has not been astounding, it has received critical praise and a strong response from its plays at both TIFF and CIFF (while VIFF is up this week). Even if The Teachers’ Lounge doesn’t strike gold, Çatak is setting himself up for a brilliant career and many opportunities in the future.
2. The Taste of Things (FRANCE)
Eugenie, an esteemed cook, and Dodin, a fine gourmet, embark on a romantic journey through their shared passion for delicious dishes. Director Tran Anh Hung’s slow yet methodical pace mirrors the meticulous process of creating culinary masterpieces.
Director: Trần Anh Hùng
Trailer: Watch Here
Release Date: November 8, 2023
More About the Film:
Don’t go into this one with an empty stomach. Trần Anh Hùng has managed to create a delectable piece of art here that will have you longing for more (both food and cinema). Putting aside the performances and the plot, which we will discuss next, The Taste of Things is able to stand solidly on its visual and auditory beauty alone. Anh Hùng is not in a hurry to bring the audience through the story; instead, he takes his time and allows viewers to savour every moment, as a clear parallel to the crafting and enjoyment of a thoughtfully prepared dish. Beyond that, the story itself, focusing on the relationship between Eugénie (JULIETTE BINOCHE) and Dodin (BENOÎT MAGIMEL), may seem meandering but is perhaps better viewed as natural and free-flowing, not constrained by any one formulaic recipe. As an audience, it is easy to sit back and watch their slow yet powerful connection.
Oscar Chances:
Much of the film world expected France’s selection for international feature to be handed to Justine Triet’s Anatomy of a Fall. Despite its ineligibility for International Feature, Triet’s film still has a shot at a Best Picture nomination, mainly due to SANDRA HÜLLER’s “Tar-esque” performance. Still, France is confident that The Taste of Things has a legitimate shot at the Oscar, even changing the film’s title for American audiences from its French title of La passion de Dodin Bouffant to make it more accessible for viewers (and potential voters). Anh Hùng had tremendous success in his early career, being nominated for an Academy Award for his first feature, The Scent of Green Papaya, in 1993. In recent years, though, he has been quiet, not directing a feature film since 2017. The Academy loves a comeback story, which may give The Taste of Things the edge it needs.
1. Perfect Days (JAPAN)
Hirayama, a Tokyo toilet cleaner with a simple life, faces unexpected encounters that gradually unveil his past. Director Wim Wenders explores the simple pleasures of life and the ripples caused by small gestures in this thought-provoking film.
Director: Wim Wenders
Trailer: Watch Here
Release Date: December, 2023 / January, 2024
More About the Film:
Okay, full disclosure here: Perfect Days is my top film of 2023 to date, and it was seemingly crafted with my exact taste in mind, which means there may be a hint of bias in having it land in the number one spot. Still, with a director in Wim Wenders, who appears to be back to peak form, there is no limit to what might happen. In fact, and this may be blasphemous to suggest, I would be willing to place Perfect Days in the same conversation as some of his greatest films, including Paris, Texas and Wings of Desire. This latest Wenders film is a powerful reflection on the beauty of the everyday. It gives viewers no choice but to take a step back to examine their pain and struggles and open themselves up to the possibility of so much more hiding beneath the surface. Beyond that, the soundtrack to this film is particularly captivating, with its 60s and 70s hits, led by The Animals “The House of the Rising Sun” and Lou Reed’s titular “Perfect Day” doing much of the talking that our humble protagonist chooses not to do. Speaking of our protagonist, Koji Yakusho provides one of the year’s strongest performances despite (or perhaps because of?) his choice to speak no more than is needed.
Oscar Chances:
As alluded to, Wim Wenders has an illustrious career, and his films have formed the backbone of inspiration for filmmakers of the last four decades. As such, a “return-to-form” film will undoubtedly give Wenders a solid shot at his fourth Oscar nomination in total (after his three documentary nominations – 1999’s Buena Vista Social Club, 2011’s Pina, and 2014’s The Salt of the Earth) and somehow his first nomination for a narrative feature. A possible Best Actor nomination for Koji Yakusho further bolsters Perfect Days Oscar chances. I can only speak for myself, but if any film from this list ends up with the honour of Best International Feature, I hope it is this one. Few films in recent years have touched me in such a way, and I have little doubt it will have left an indelible mark when I am able to reflect on it in the years to come.
