Correction
Yesterday in my review I said that The Counterfeiters was the weakest Best Foreign Language film of the decade, but that was wrong. I totally forgot about the 2005 South African winner Tsotsi, which I found to be trite and contrived. The very fact that I forgot all about it when thinking back on the past winners should tell you something right there.
That gives The Counterfeiters a slight boost in Academy history. Tsotsi's victory over the far superior (and more challenging) Palestinian entry Paradise Now and Germany's gutwrenching Sophie Scholl - The Final Days was a travesty.
For a look at something far better to have come from South Africa, check out Nick Plowman's Fataculture.
That gives The Counterfeiters a slight boost in Academy history. Tsotsi's victory over the far superior (and more challenging) Palestinian entry Paradise Now and Germany's gutwrenching Sophie Scholl - The Final Days was a travesty.For a look at something far better to have come from South Africa, check out Nick Plowman's Fataculture.
Comments
I haven't seen Tsotsi -- and I never will. I mean, why should I?! -- but definitely agree about Nick. Fataculture forever!!!!!
*repeatedly jabs my Fataculture fan club card in the faces of strangers like it was a picture of my kids*
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However, Totsi winning over Paradise Now was certainly an error on the part of the Academy.
And, as a matter of personal taste, Lives of Others over Pan's Labyrinth was a bad choice. Yet I confess both of those films were worthy and I was okay with that choice.
And somehow I have managed to not see Sophie Scholl. I will have to check it out.
Tsotsi was horribly weak, it had its moments, but they did not make up for anything. For a better example of SA cinema, perhaps you should see the 2004 Oscar Nominee for Best Foreign Language film "Yesterday." That was a great South African film. Unless you already have, in which case I would love to hear what you thought about it...
I think I would have been far happier if Paradise Now or Sophie Scholl won, but I cannot turn back time.
I can only hope and pray SA cinema improves soon. You have not seen the last of us....