Last week, based on word from a source I had no reason to disbelieve, I reported that Greece had submitted the acclaimed Cannes prizewinner “Dogtooth” in the Best Foreign Language Film race. Not so, apparently.
I’m not sure whether this was incorrect from the start or the selectors changed their minds — details can get murky in this race — but Screen International confirms that the the Greek entry is actually veteran director Adonis Lykouresis’s “Slaves In Their Bonds.” Apologies for the misinformation.
Either way, it’s probably a savvy choice. For all its critical kudos, Academy voters most likely wouldn’t have touched the violent, discomfiting “Dogtooth” with a bargepole, while Lykouresis’s film, a romantic family saga set in Corfu at the turn of the 20th century, sounds rather more up their alley.
Comments
8 responses to “Foreign film correction: Greece submits ‘Slaves’”
It’s official. We are chickens!! I haven’t seen either film (Dogtooth will open in one or two weeks) but reviews indicate that Slaves is a boring film to please the eyes. I agree that it will have a better chance but let’s not treat Oscars as Eurovision. Let’s be more daring. After all, we are not getting the nomination so why not lose with pride?
“Samson & Delilah” and “Mei Lanfang” have been nominated at the Asia Pacific Film Awards for Best Picture. “Mary & Max” for Best Animation, too.
Irrelevant, really, but worth the mention nonetheless.
here’s the link btw.
Greece always sends the winner of last year’s Thessaloniki film festival. Last year’s winner has not yet been released in theaters in Greece, so it’s not eligible for the Oscars. So, they sent the film that came 2nd in the festival which is “Slaves In their Bonds”, which i hear is very boring despite the mostly talented cast. “Dogtooth” will participate in this year’s Thessaloniki Festival, which takes place in November, and will have the chance to win in the festival, and be Greece’s submission next year.
I knew that the news that “Dogtooth” was the submission of Greece was too good to be true. Sending “Dogtooth” which currently has a lot of good buzz for it would be a smart choice, but noooo.
So now Holland changed their submission to: “War In Winter”. Best choice, one of the best Dutch films in years. I hope it gets through.
Here’s the trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sG5UsOQiHME
Do you have any confirmation of this, Jonathan? I can’t find a report online.
Outrageous. I saw “Dogtooth” at the London Film Festival last night and it is superb. In fact, I was already looking for a bookmakers to put a bet on “Dogtooth” being one of the nominees. What a shame. Any idea why?? This is a big mistake.
I think the Greek selectors have at least saved you from losing your money there, Tristán … there’s no way in a million years that the bluehairs on the Academy’s foreign-language committee could have stomached “Dogtooth.” (I sense the selection panel probably had the same notion.)
I agree with you that it’s an excellent film, though.