This Year’s International Oscar Dark Horses, From ‘Kneecap’ to ‘How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies’

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International feature films like World War II dramas and historical epics continue to hold their ground in the Best International Feature Film Oscar category, as demonstrated by Italy’s submission, “Vermiglio“, a tale of a Sicilian soldier who deserts his army and ends up in a secluded Alpine village in 1944. The film is banking on the Academy’s enduring fascination with World War II narratives. However, the growth of the Academy to accommodate more non-U.S. members has significantly broadened the pool of eligible films. Today, an Oscar shortlist might as easily feature a Korean horror-thriller exploring class struggles (the 2019 winner, “Parasite>”) or a Polish road movie centered around donkeys (a 2022 nominee, “EO“).

The Best International Feature Film Oscar category still appreciates World War II dramas and historical epics like Italy’s entry, “Vermiglio“, but the Academy, which has become more diverse, now considers a wider range of films. This means that movies such as the Korean horror-thriller “Parasite” (2019 winner) and the Polish road movie focused on donkeys, “EO” (a 2022 nominee), have just as good a chance of making the shortlist as traditional costume dramas.

Besides the clear favorites this year, there are numerous underdogs to watch out for: Rich Peppiatt’s quirky “docu-drama” titled Kneecap, which made its Sundance debut and has been captivating audiences since then, is one such contender. This film, acquired by awards heavyweight Sony Pictures Classics just before its premiere at Park City, follows the story of an Irish rap group in a very loose adaptation of real events. The members Móglaí Bap, Mo Chara, and Dj Provaí portray themselves in this movie. Michael Fassbender lends some star power to the production with his role as a former IRA hitman turned yoga instructor.

Breaking Millions Before Grandma‘s Time” – A Comedy-Drama that Bucked Trends in the Global Film Scene:

In the gaming world, I’ve come across this unique Thai production that bypassed the traditional festival route, instead, it stormed cinema screens across Southeast Asia. The result? A staggering box office haul of approximately $50 million! Netflix saw its potential and now it’s winning hearts globally.

The story follows a cunning young fellow who trades his corporate gig for grandma duty, with dreams of inheriting her wealth. Director Pat Boonnitipat deftly navigates this tale of life, death, humor, and self-discovery, making it hard for even the most jaded film critic not to be touched.

The charming Latvian production titled “Flow” has potential to win over international voters in the feature category, making it a rare animated contender. This dialogue-free CGI tale centers around an innocent cat who teams up with a labrador, secretary bird, lemur, and capybara to flee from a flood of biblical dimensions. The film’s narrative style is reminiscent of Studio Ghibli’s animation methodology, which may resonate with Academy members who previously awarded the late Hayao Miyazaki an Oscar for “The Boy and the Heron” (best animated feature) in 2024.

If the Academy chooses to get really unconventional, it could potentially assign one of its last five spots to the Canadian entry, titled “Universal Language“. This film, produced by avant-garde director Matthew Rankin, is a comical take on an alternate Canada where French and Farsi are the primary languages. A quirky tribute to Iranian cinema and the eccentric films of fellow Winnipeg filmmaker Guy Maddin, “Universal Language” impressed critics in Cannes, earning the first-ever audience award in the Directors’ Fortnight section. It remains to be seen just how open international feature voters will be to such an unusual film.

Originally published as the main feature in The Hollywood Reporter’s special January edition, you can enjoy this article by subscribing to our magazine. To do so, simply click here to subscribe.

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2025-01-10 20:24