‘Three Monkeys’ joins the Foreign Film mix

Nobody who was paying attention at Cannes will be surprised that Turkey has selected Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s “Three Monkeys” as their entry in the foreign-language derby.

The film was one of the critical sensations of the festival back in May and was many pundits’ pick for the Palme d’Or — it wound up with the Best Director award. Just to jog your memory, here’s a rave from the ever-reliable Jonathan Romney:

An ostensibly routine noir-style psychological thriller vaults into the realms of high art in “Three Monkeys” … For the first time, Ceylan really involves himself in narrative complexity, spinning a subtly-twisty yarn with echoes of such crime writers as Simenon and James M. Cain … the smallest amount of trimming could well turn an exceptional film into a near-perfect one.

I have been excited by this for some time. Ceylan’s 2002 film “Uzak (Distant)” is one of my favourite films of the decade so far, a work of visual wonder and immaculate storytelling grace. While wildly acclaimed, his follow-up, “Climates,” did less for me — it was exquisitely rendered, but on a narrative and thematic level, Ceylan seemed to me to be treading water. So I like the idea of this move into more genre-tinged territory. It’s one of my must-sees at the upcoming London Film Festival.

I suspect the film may prove a little too resolutely arthouse for the frequently auteur-shy Foreign Film committee, but no matter. As when Mexico selected Carlos Reygadas’ bold, beautiful and thoroughly Academy-unfriendly “Silent Light” last year, I applaud Turkey for the bravery of their selection.

In other news in the category, Colombia and Venezuela have selected Sundance entry “Dog Eat Dog” and “The Taint of Fame,” respectively. I don’t know much about these titles (though I find the Venezuelan film’s premise — a destitute girl seeks financial gain by entering a Marilyn Monroe lookalike contest — rather appealing), so if any readers can fill me in, please do so.

Also, word is going round that Italy might announce their selection today — with “Il Divo” and especially “Gomorrah” the obvious favourites. It’s looking like a potential reunion of the big Cannes winners, what with “Three Monkeys” and France’s “The Class” already in the mix. We’ll keep you posted.