Another year, another tough decision awaiting the French selection committee who has just unveiled the four titles in the running to represent it in Best International Feature Film category at the 97th Academy awards.
“All We Imagine As Light” (Payal Kapadia)
”The Count of Monte Cristo” (Alexandre de La Patellière, Matthieu Delaporte)
”Emilia Pérez” (Jacques Audiard)
”Misericordia” (Alain Guiraudie)
Two of these films are not even in French. Kapadia’s film is Indian, but had some French money backing it. It’s not like India was ever going to select it as their pick since the film seems to have displeased that country’s political powers. It’s too controversial over there.
Meanwhile, “Emilia Perez,” another production backed by French money, was directed by Jacques Audiard and is mostly in English and Spanish. When all is said and done, this might very well be France’s pick as it is already a major contender for Picture, Director and Actress.
‘Perez’ will be facing stiff competition from French blockbuster “The Count of Monte Cristo” which is a rousing crowd pleaser that has been breaking box-office records in France. The reviews have also been very good. Word is already contentious as to whether France should snub ‘Perez’ for this one.
Alain Guiraudie’s fabulous “Misericordia,” one of the best films to have screened at Cannes, is too odd to be the pick, but it certainly deserves to be part of the final four. I was pleasantly surprised that it ended up in the final four. Up next for Guiraudie’s film is a bow at NYFF next month.
One snubbed film that should be mentioned is Boris Lojkine’s “The Story of Souleymane,” which was the best film of this year’s UCR sidebar at Cannes. This was a very moving thriller about a struggling Guinean immigrant, who makes modest cash as an Uber Eats delivery man, frenetically cycling around the city. The film tackles a crucial 72 hours in his life, where he also has to prepare for an asylum application interview.