Tag: Nowhere in Africa

Oscar Predictions: Sound of Falling

Germany has an impressive history of International Feature Film nods at the Academy Awards in the 21st century. This includes wins for 2002’s Nowhere in Africa, 2006’s The Lives of Others, and 2022’s All Quiet on the Western Front with nominations for Downfall, Sophie Scholl – The Final Days, The Baader Meinhof Complex, The White Ribbon, Toni Erdmann, Never Look Away, The Teachers’ Lounge, and The Seed of the Sacred Fig.

Sound of Falling could certainly be the country’s 12th pic to contend in this past two decades plus. Slated for release in Germany this September with stateside distribution pending, the time shifting drama premiered at Cannes. Mascha Schilinski directs her sophomore effort after 2017’s Dark Blue Girl. The cast includes Hanna Heckt, Lena Urzendowsky, Laenie Geiseler, Susanne Wuest, and Lea Drinda.

The Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic numbers currently match at an eye catching 91. Reviews particularly praise the direction and camerawork. If Germany submits this as the hopeful for IFF (and that would appear to be a wise move), a spot among the quintet is a major possibility.

Could it garner more attention than that? That might depend on which distributor picks this up for U.S. release and whether Schilinski and the cinematography are focuses of their attention. In a best case scenario, a BP nod could be on the table, but I wouldn’t expect that call when I update my predictions shortly on the blog. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Oscar Predictions: The Teachers’ Lounge

Germany has picked The Teachers’ Lounge as its hopeful for Best International Feature Film as they try to keep their impressive track record running in this 21st century. The dramatic thriller from Ilker Çatak premiered earlier this year at the Berlin Film Festival and has continued playing the festival circuit. Leonie Benesch stars in a role earning acclaim and the pic itself stands at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 25 reviews.

As mentioned, the submitting nation has seen its share of successes in recent years. Just last year, All Quiet on the Western Front won the IFF derby. Others victors this century are Nowhere in Africa (2002) and The Lives of Others (2006). Six others selections have made the contending quintet.

At this early juncture, England’s The Zone of Interest and France’s The Taste of Things are probably the frontrunners for the statue. Then there’s three spots available for a host of feasible nominees. Lounge is certainly one of them and I wouldn’t underestimate it. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…