10 foreign language films to look out for

These films have been officially submitted for consideration at the 86th Academy Awards .

The submission list for the 86th Annual Academy Awards’ foreign-language category is slowly becoming longer, with over 50 countries selecting films so far. The October 1 deadline looms close Last year, a record 71 countries submitted films for consideration in the end.

According to Indiewire, nine finalists will be shortlisted in mid-January, with the final five nominees to be announced on January 16, 2014. Of course, we’re rooting for our very own Zinda Bhaag, but it hasn’t made it to the website’s list of predicted winners. Below is a list of potential winners (as predicted by Indiewire) as well as other submitted films to watch out for:

1 Saudi Arabia — Wadjda



Directed by Haifaa al-Mansour, Wadjda is the story of an 11-year-old Saudi girl living in Riyadh, who dreams of owning a green bicycle that she sees in a store every day on her way to school. She wants to race against her friend Abdullah, a boy from the neighbourhood, but riding bikes is frowned upon for girls and Wadjda’s mother refuses to buy one for her daughter. Wadjda decides to participate in a Quran recital competition, the SR1,000 cash prize of which would allow her to pay for the bike.

2 Chile — Gloria



Gloria, a 58-year-old divorcée, has no desire to spend her days and nights alone. Determined to defy old age and loneliness, she rushes into a whirl of nightclubs and parties, looking for what would best be described as one night stands. This pursuit of one night gratification only leads to disappointment and emptiness. But then she meets Rodolfo, an ex-naval officer, she even begins to imagine a permanent relationship. However, the encounter presents challenges, and Gloria is forced to confront her own secrets. The film has been irected by Sebastian Lelio.

3 Canada — Gabrielle



Gabrielle is a young woman with Williams syndrome, a genetic condition marked by developmental delays and strong social personalities, who has an exceptional musical gift. She and her boyfriend Martin, who met at a choir, are inseparable. However, because they are different, their loved ones are fearful of their relationship. As the choir prepare for an important music festival, Gabrielle does everything she can to gain her independence.

4 France — Renoir



Set on the French Riviera in the summer of 1915, Jean Renoir, son of the Impressionist painter, Pierre-Auguste returns home after being wounded in World War I. At his side is Andrée, a young woman who rejuvenates, enchants, and inspires both father and son.

5  Australia — The Rocket



A boy who is believed to bring bad luck to everyone around him leads his family and two new friends through Laos to find a new home. After a calamity-filled journey through a land scarred by the legacy of war, to prove he’s not bad luck he builds a giant rocket to enter the most exciting and dangerous competition of the year.

6 Belgium — The Broken Circle Breakdown



The Broken Circle Breakdown is a 2012 Belgian drama film directed by Felix Van Groeningen. It was nominated for the 2013 Lux Prize. Based on the play written by Johan Heldenbergh, it features its writer in the main character of Didier and actress/singer Veerle Baetens as his wife Elise. Young newcomer Nell Cattryss plays their ill daughter Maybelle. The film has been selected as the Belgian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards.

7 Hong Kong — The Grandmaster



The martial arts drama film The Grandmaster is based on the life story of the Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Man. The Grandmaster collected $2.7 million at the Hong Kong box office and $50 million at the central Chinese box office. It was also well-received at the Berlin International Film Festival.

8 UK — Metro Manila



Seeking a brighter future in megacity Manila, Oscar Ramirez and his family flee their impoverished life in the rice fields of the northern Philippines. But the sweltering capital’s bustling intensity quickly overwhelms them, and they fall prey to the rampant manipulations of its hardened locals. Oscar catches a lucky break when he’s offered steady work for an armored truck company and gregarious senior officer Ong takes him under his wing. Soon, though, the reality of his work’s mortality rate and the murky motives of his new partner force Oscar to confront the perils he faces in his new job and life.

9 India — The Good Road



The presenters of The Lunchbox didn’t hide their disappointment when The Good Road was declared as India’s Oscar entry this year. The story is set in the state of Gujarat’s Kachchh district and revolves around three sets of people who are on a “journey to achieve their respective pursuits, but over the next 24 hours, will discover something altogether different, something new and unexpected about their lives,” according to the director

10 Pakistan — Zinda Bhaag 



Pakistani film Zinda Bhaag, which has been directed by Meenu Gaur and Farjad Nabi, and produced by Mazhar Zaidi, has been nominated by the Pakistani Academy Selection Committee (PASC). It is for the first time in 50 years that a Pakistani film has been submitted for the Oscars’ consideration.

The film stars model-turned-actor Amna Ilyas, Khurram Patras, Salman Ahmad Khan and Zohib along with seasoned Indian actor Naseeruddin Shah. Filmed in Lahore, Zinda Bhaag is the story of three young men who are trying to make it by escaping their monotonous life.

Zinda Bhaag has won three awards out of four nominations at Mosaic International South Asian Film Festival.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 26^th, 2013.

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