The Best International Film award race is a two-horse and one-donkey competition with those three. However, one horse is a full lap ahead. All Quite on the Western Front is also nominated for Oscar's best picture, adapted screenplay, international feature, cinematography, production design, score, sound, visual effects, makeup and hairstyling.
All Quiet on the Western Front (Germany)
All Quiet is a classic, anti-war novel about the horrors of The Great War as told by a German soldier. It has been retold as a movie by a German director, Edward Berger, in the German language.
If it sounds familiar, this is the third retelling including the 1930 film that won the Oscar for Best Picture. The tale follows a soldier's journey from an idealistic young man into a shell-shocked, changed man at war. Artfully made. Wide in scale. Brutally bloody. Heartbreaking. WWI was fought by kids and this film importantly reminds future generations of the cost of war.
EO (Poland)
With this nominee and nine nominations for Banshees of Inisherin, it was a big year for donkeys in cinema. EO follows a donkey who encounters good and bad people, and experiences joy and pain, exploring a vision of modern Europe through his eyes. Inventive. Moving. EO has an unusual perspective to show us the world may sometimes be cold and cruel but doesn't have to be.
The Quiet Girl (Ireland)
2023 was a good year for Ireland too — with 14 nominations including noms for Irish actors Colin Farrell, Kerry Condon, Brendan Gleeson and Barry Keoghan (Banshees), plus Paul Mescal (Aftersun). That's a quarter of the acting nominations. Additionally, An Irish Goodbye received a nomination for Best Live Action Short and The Quiet Girl for Best International Film.
A quiet, neglected girl is sent away from her dysfunctional family to live with foster parents for the summer — and she discovers a secret.
Where to watch: In select theaters.
Close (Belgium)
A friendship between teenagers Leo and Remi is disrupted in this tale of friendship. Close was released theatrically in late January, and is building momentum. Close took the Grand Pix prize at Cannes.
Where is RRR? (India)
The international film of the year and perhaps decade, RRR, was not eligible to be nominated as India submitted Chhello Show for consideration instead. It was not nominated. If you're interested in the wild, innovative possibilities of cinema's future, stream this amazing production and you'll wonder why Marvel, DC, and the Fast & Furious flicks are just mailing it in.
Where to watch: Netflix
All Quiet on the Western Front (Germany)
All Quiet is a classic, anti-war novel about the horrors of The Great War as told by a German soldier. It has been retold as a movie by a German director, Edward Berger, in the German language.
If it sounds familiar, this is the third retelling including the 1930 film that won the Oscar for Best Picture. The tale follows a soldier's journey from an idealistic young man into a shell-shocked, changed man at war. Artfully made. Wide in scale. Brutally bloody. Heartbreaking. WWI was fought by kids and this film importantly reminds future generations of the cost of war.
It's a front-runner for Best Picture and Best International Film. A rare feat.
Where to watch: Netflix
Argentina, 1985 (Argentina)
If you're not up for a bloody war film, I have a good option for you. Argentina 1985 took the Golden Globe from All Quiet, and it's an easier watch.
In this true-to-life film, a team of lawyers takes on the heads of Argentina’s bloody military dictatorship during the 1980s in a battle against odds and a race against time. It stars and was produced by the country’s most celebrated actor Ricardo Darín as eccentric lawyer Julio César Strassera, as well as Luis Moreno Ocampo as public prosecutor Peter Lanzani.
While this film plays out like every public court movie before it, including the big court scene with applause and symphony score, it packs an emotional wallop. Most especially when each prosecutor's family approaches them in the third act. I may have to watch this one again before Oscar night.
Where to watch: Amazon
Where to watch: Netflix
Argentina, 1985 (Argentina)
If you're not up for a bloody war film, I have a good option for you. Argentina 1985 took the Golden Globe from All Quiet, and it's an easier watch.
In this true-to-life film, a team of lawyers takes on the heads of Argentina’s bloody military dictatorship during the 1980s in a battle against odds and a race against time. It stars and was produced by the country’s most celebrated actor Ricardo Darín as eccentric lawyer Julio César Strassera, as well as Luis Moreno Ocampo as public prosecutor Peter Lanzani.
While this film plays out like every public court movie before it, including the big court scene with applause and symphony score, it packs an emotional wallop. Most especially when each prosecutor's family approaches them in the third act. I may have to watch this one again before Oscar night.
Where to watch: Amazon
EO (Poland)
With this nominee and nine nominations for Banshees of Inisherin, it was a big year for donkeys in cinema. EO follows a donkey who encounters good and bad people, and experiences joy and pain, exploring a vision of modern Europe through his eyes. Inventive. Moving. EO has an unusual perspective to show us the world may sometimes be cold and cruel but doesn't have to be.
Where to watch: VOD
The Quiet Girl (Ireland)
2023 was a good year for Ireland too — with 14 nominations including noms for Irish actors Colin Farrell, Kerry Condon, Brendan Gleeson and Barry Keoghan (Banshees), plus Paul Mescal (Aftersun). That's a quarter of the acting nominations. Additionally, An Irish Goodbye received a nomination for Best Live Action Short and The Quiet Girl for Best International Film.
A quiet, neglected girl is sent away from her dysfunctional family to live with foster parents for the summer — and she discovers a secret.
Where to watch: In select theaters.
Close (Belgium)
A friendship between teenagers Leo and Remi is disrupted in this tale of friendship. Close was released theatrically in late January, and is building momentum. Close took the Grand Pix prize at Cannes.
Close is not currently streaming and I have not seen it.
Where to watch: In select theaters.
Where to watch: In select theaters.
Where is RRR? (India)
The international film of the year and perhaps decade, RRR, was not eligible to be nominated as India submitted Chhello Show for consideration instead. It was not nominated. If you're interested in the wild, innovative possibilities of cinema's future, stream this amazing production and you'll wonder why Marvel, DC, and the Fast & Furious flicks are just mailing it in.
Where to watch: Netflix
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