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One of the world's biggest -- if not THE biggest -- events for actors, the Academy Awards will
take place next March. The anticipation is already mounting... and
potentially competing in the Best Foreign-language category will be Korea's "Haemoo."
For more, we have our film critic Jason Bechervaise live in the studio.
So, Jason, how does this work exactly? Korea submits a film, and then it has a chance to
be short-listed?
Essentially yes. Each year the Korean Film Council otherwise known as KOFIC decide on
a film they feel has a chance to be nominated for the Best Foreign-Language award, and this
year they have chosen HAEMOO. We’ll get on to why they chose HAEMOO shortly, but as
to how it works from here, is that it joins a number of submissions so it’s a tough
race, and it will be competing with some very strong films and in January several hundred
academy voters will select six films from a shortlist, and then a committee will add
three that have been overlooked, and then two sets of voters will pick 5 films.
So what aspects -- in terms of quality -- are these voters looking for?
The academy tends to have a particular taste, and there are things they tend to prefer.
Films based on history, or films that explore social issues that are not too dark tend to
be looked at favorable with the academy. Last year THE GREAT BEAUTY by Paulo Sorrentino
won the Oscar, and the year before ARMOR by Michael Haneke won it, both of which did well
at festivals.
Would you say the Oscars are somewhat Eurocentric when it comes to the Foreign Language Award?
For sure, and you have to remember who the voters are, and many of them have European
heritage, and so they can relate and understand the films better. Japanese films though have
fared better then Korean films .
No Korean film has ever been nominated?
Yes, and this comes up every year, and people do wonder what it takes for a Korean film
to be nominated especially since Korean films are so popular on the global market.
So why HAEMOO ?
The Korean Film Council said that the reception the film received at the Toronto International
Film Festival was a big factor, and I was there, and it certainly generated much praise
for its strong visual style and compelling narrative . Also, SNOWPIERCER, which is directed
by *** Joon Ho is also being considered for some of the main categories and given ***’s
connection to HAEMOO that could also be a factor ? the power of *** Joon-ho’s name.
So as an expert, what's your outlook? Do either film have a chance of getting nominated?
My only worry with HAEMOO and SNOWPIERCER too, actually, is that they are very dark.
The academy don’t tend to pick such films, and so I think, if I am honest, it’s a long
shot , but at the same time, I think it’s the best decision. A GIRL AT MY DOOR was also
a potential possibility, which is produced by Lee Chang-***, but with *** Joon Ho as
popular as he is, I think HAEMOO was the right choice. As for SNOWPIERCER, I think it could
get nominated for best supporting actress and Best Adapted Screenplay ? it has a realistic
chance, especially given how well the film was received in the States, but again, lots
of competition, and it was released before the awards season begins.
Apart from Director ***, which Korean director do you think has a fair chance of having a
movie nominated for the Best Foreign Language at the Oscars?
I think if there was a director that can do it, it’s Lee Chang-***, which I know may
sound ironic given what I said. His appetite to make films with a social critique and his
visual style suits the academy taste, and he’s consistent. I think if he’s given
a decent budget to make a masterpiece that can pick up some awards in Cannes and other
festivals, I think he could do it. Both *** Joon Ho and Park Chan-wook could also make
films that go on to get that all important nomination, but their styles are not typical of the academy’s
taste, but SNOWPIERCER could change that
Alright, thank you Jason for dropping by.