'OSCAR' SPECIAL!

'QUO VADIS, AIDA?' OR 'BETTER DAYS'..MAY WIN!

Zhou Dongyu & Jackson Yee in film 'Better Days' (Hong Kong).

'93rd Oscar' knocking on the door and we are curious about who will win 'Best Foreign Language Film' Or 'Best International Feature Film'!

Jasna Duricic in 'Quo Vadis, Aida?' (Bosnia-Herzegovina)

As usual, there are five films.. nominated for this category. In these includes..'Better Days' (Hong Kong), 'Quo Vadis, Aida?' (Bosnia and - Herzegovina), 'The Man Who Sold His Skin' (Tunisia), 'Another Round' (Denmark) and documentary.. 'Collective' (Romania).

Hong Kong's 'Better Days' (2019) is based on Chinese novel 'In his youth, In her beauty' by Jiu Yuexi. It's about teenage girl who develops unlikely friendship with a mysterious young man who protects her! Lam Wing Sum, Li Yuan & Xu Yimeng wrote the screenplya of it. Famous pretty Zhou Dongyu & dancer-singer Jackson Yee played these roles. Hong Kong's basically an actor Derek Tsang directed this film!

Documentary 'Collective' (Romania).

Bosnia and Herzegovina's 'Quo Vadis, Aida?' ('Where are you going, Aida'/2020) is a film with war backdrop. Bosnian screenwriter and filmmaker Jasmila Zbanic wrote, co-produced & directed this; which is based on the true story. It shows attempts of UN lady translator to save the lives of her people during Bosnian genocide! Serbian actress Jasna Duricic did this challenging role!

Tunisian film 'The Man Who Sold His Skin' (2020) is inspired from the Belgian neo-conceptual artist's work. It shows a story of Syrian refugee who turns his body into a living work of art & exhibits in a museum. Kaouther Ben Hania wrote-directed in this film Yahya Mahayni played a protagonist! 

Film 'The Man Who Sold His Skin' (Tunisia)

Whereas Denmark's Thomas - Vinterberg's film 'Druk' ('Another Round'/2020) revolves around so called teachers friends who does experiments with alcohol to improve their lives!

 

Romanian documentary 'Colectiv' ('Collective'/2019) follows efforts of newspaper journalists in investigating fraud and corruptions in health services! Alexander Nanau co-written, co-produced & directed this film!

After watching the glimpses of these films, I have my comments..

'The Man Who Sold His Skin' is just like satire and recollects Fellini kind surrealism. 'Druk's plot is very dramatic & its content is not acceptable! And 'Collective' is very authentic cinematic work; but how can documentary comes in feature film section?

Scene of film 'Another Round' (Denmark).

 

So comparitively other two films are deserving. 'Quo Vadis, Aida?' focuses on the effect of war and reality of struggle for life. And Jasna Duricic portrayed female protagonist sensibly in it! Other side 'Better Days' shows the contemporary picture of youth.. their frustration, emotions & dreams. We can see such reflections in its artists Zhou Dongyu & Jackson Yee's performances. I think these two films have chance to win this award. Especially 'Better Days', but on the current world scenario will this film win?..However, this deserves!

 

'Oscar' ceremony will be held on 25th April!

Best wishes to all these films.!!

- Manoj Kulkarni