The Square, Divine Order Tops List of Official Foreign Language Entries So Far

Brian Perry has done a nice job of putting all of the foreign language entries in one convenient place on Twitter, with convenient trailer links.

Sweden has announced that they will submit The Square, which screened in Cannes to most good reviews.The Square is Ruben Östlund’s follow-up to the brilliant Force Majeure, which should have been nominated for an Oscar.

Azerbaijan submitted Pomegranate Orchard, “Gabil returns home to the humble family farmstead, surrounded by an orchard of venerable pomegranate trees; since his sudden departure twelve years ago he was never once in contact. However, the deep emotional scars he left behind cannot be erased from one day to the next.” Directed by Ilgar Najaf.

Bosnia Herzegovina submitted Men Dont Cry, “In an empty Serbian hotel becomes one more battleground in the ceaseless Yugoslav Wars. Nearly 20 years after the official end of hostilities, many former combatants have still never truly escaped.” Directed by Alen Drljevic.

Dominican Republic submitted Woodpeckers,”Julián finds love and a purpose to living in the last place he imagined: Najayo prison in the Dominican Republic. Through sign languages from one prison to another he encounters Yanelly, separated from 150 meters and dozens of guards, he has to win her love while keeping it a secret.” Directed by José María Cabral.

Germany submitted In The Fade for a 2018 – another buzzed film from Cannes with Diane Kruger, who won Best Actress. “Katja’s life collapses after the death of husband and son in a bomb attack. After the time of mourning and injustice, here comes the time of revenge.” Directed by Faith Akin.

Iraq submitted The Dark Wind, “Radical Islamist militants attack a village in Iraq where a young Yazidi love couple prepares for marriage. From that moment onwards their lives are turned into a nightmare.” Directed by Hussein Hassan Ali.

Nepal submitted White Sun, Anti-regime partisan Chandra confronts physical, social and political obstacles for his father’s funeral. His search for a solution takes him to neighboring mountain villages and encounters with the police and rebel guerrillas. A portrait of post-civil war Nepal during the fragile deadlocked peace process.” Directed by Deepak Rauniyar.

Switzerland submitted The Divine Order, “Switzerland, 1971: Nora is a young housewife and mother who lives with her husband and their two sons in a peaceful little village. Here, in the Swiss countryside, little or nothing is felt of the huge social upheavals that the movement of May 1968 has caused. Nora’s life, too, has been unaffected; she is a retiring, quiet person, well liked by everyone – until she begins to campaign publicly and pugnaciously for women’s right to vote, an issue that will be put before the male voters on February 7th, 1971.”

THE DIVINE ORDER Movie trailer (english) from THE SCREENERS on Vimeo.

They all look brilliant, don’t they? Foreign Language always has the best selection of offerings at the Oscars. Unfortunately so many of them do not get seen. Do try to hunt these down. Off the bat, I’m most curious about The Divine Order, White Sun, and The Square.