“A Royal Affair” from Denmark, starring Mads Mikkelsen, Mikkel Boe Følsgaard, and Alicia Wikander is one of only 5 films out of an initial list of entrants from 71 countries that have made the final cut for the 85th Academy Awards® Foreign Language Film nominees. The list includes “Amour” from Austria, “Kon-Tiki”, Norway, “No”, Chile and “War Witch” from Canada.

Click for full film review of "A Royal Affair"

Each film like the other entrants have unique stories to tell on screen and off. myETVmedia first encountered these films at TIFF in Toronto. “Amour” leads the list with 4 nominations at the 85th Academy Awards®. Best Original Screen Play Michael Haneke, Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Performance by an Actress in a leading role for Emmanuelle Riva and Best Foreign Language Film.

"Amour". Courtesy of TIFF. Click for full review.

What sets these films apart in a field of such excellence? The 5 films selected all have at their core individuals who face intensely personal challenges, immense obstacles, in some cases insurmountable. They endure through turmoil and social conflicts that play out against the backdrop of political realities that resonate across time and distance. The films have remarkable back stories. An African street kid becomes an international film star; the star of Hiroshima mon amour (1959) French actor, Emmanuelle Riva (b.1927) becomes the oldest nominee for an Academy Award for Best Actress.

"No". Courtesy of TIFF

“No” Chile’s entry, follows the remarkable campaign that peacefully removed the feared Dictator General Pinochet from his brutal 16 year reign in 1988 using an advertising campaign.

“Kon-Tiki” reenacts one of the most extraordinary journeys of this century with the crossing of the wide Pacific on a raft. Eccentric genius Thor Heyerdahl became a household name after he defied almost everyone to carryout a 4,300 nautical mile journey following the course of early Polynesians.The young Norwegian directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg may have hit Hollywood gold with Kon-Tiki, having just signed on to a multi-million dollar deal with Legendary Pictures for “Spectral”.

“A Royal Affair” goes back to 18th century Denmark on the cusp of the enlightenment with events told through the eyes of a young Queen who’s intimate story of love, betrayal and desire will change history.

We will feature each of the 5 Foreign Film Nominees.

Photo: Rachel Mwanza. Courtesy of ACESHOWBIZ

None can match the real life story of 16-year old Rachel Mwanza, star of War Witch, one of hundreds of thousands of street kids in Africa. Mwanza and her siblings were abandoned by their parents when she was very young. Mwanza had never been to school and could not read or write.

"War Witch"

Montrealer Kim Nguyen the director and producers Marie-Claude Poulin and Pierre Even saw Mwanza in a documentary and went to Africa to find her. She impressed them so much, they asked her to play the 12-year-old girl who is abducted and forced to become a child soldier in “War Witch” (Rebelle).

Rachel Mwanza

Rachel, who now lives in Kinshasa with her co-star Marie Dilou, has touched the hearts of their filmmakers so much that they now consider her family and will pay for Mwanza’s education until she is 18. They are applying for visas for her to attend the 85th Academy Awards, Feb 24th. They hope to bring Mwanza to Canada for the March 3rd Canadian Screen Awards in Toronto.

Go to “Amour” Film Review

Go to “A Royal Affair” Film Review

Moira Romano