German cinema will be well-represented at the 81st annual Academy Awards, with six films produced, co-produced, or directed by German filmmakers up for an Oscar in 10 different categories. A historical drama about the left-wing Baader Meinhof gang that terrorized Germany in the 1970's could take home the flagship prize for Best Foreign Film, and Werner Herzog received his first ever Oscar nomination.
The Baader Meinhof Complex, produced by the Los Angeles-based German heavyweight Bernd Eichinger, has not yet enjoyed a wide US release but has already impressed critics worldwide. It has also sold 2.4 million tickets since it opened in Germany in September 2008. The film stars Martina Gedeck (The Lives of Others) and Moritz Bleibtreu (Run Lola Run) as Ulrike Meinhof and Andreas Baader, who led a group of student revolutionaries in increasingly violent attacks that culminated in bombings, hijacking and murders.
Complex will compete for the Best Foreign Language Film against the German-French-Israeli co-production “Waltz With Bashir”. The animated documentary about a young Israeli's soldier's experience in the 1968 War with Lebanon already edged out Complex to win a Golden Globe this year.
Director Stephen Daldry's (The Hours) take on Bernhard Schlink's novel The Reader is up for five awards. The drama about a teenager's affair with an older woman who is later tried for crimes she committed as a concentration camp guard is up for best picture and direction as well as awards for its screenplay (David Hare) and cinematography (Chris Menges and Roger Deakins). Kate Winslet has been nominated as best leading actress for her role as the concentration camp guard.
Werner Herzog's documentary about his trip to Antarctica Encounters at the End of the World earned the legendary German director the nod for best documentary picture. One of the most prolific figures in modern cinema, many of Herzog's most critically successful films, including 2005's Grizzly Man, have been passed over by the Academy Awards, making this his first nomination.
Two short films from Germany will also compete for Oscars. Auf der Strecke (On the Line), which won a student Oscar last year is in the running for best live action short film, as is Spielzeugland (Toyland).
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the nominees on January 22, 2009 and will announce the winners during the gala ceremony on February 22.
RSS Feed (xml)
No comments:
Post a Comment