The Foreign film Oscar nominees this year resonate with audiences around the world, capturing more than their fair share of Oscar buzz. They demonstrate the passion and commitment of filmmakers to tell a particular story no matter the personal cost. All have been years in the making. Amour and War Witch offer something very special.

Michael Haneke’s “Amour ” heads the list having run off with 2 top BAFTAs along with multiple other prestigious awards including Haneke’s second Palme d’Or at Cannes. Best Film, Best Director and Best Actress are accolades associated with this passionate film that is also nominated for 5 Academy Awards, including best original screenplay. “Amour ” is nominated for 10 French Oscars – the 2013 César Awards (Feb. 22^nd). Made in Austria, it is favoured to win the Foreign Film Oscar.

Check out our full review of Amour.

Canada’s Oscar nominee War Witch (Rebelle) is a daring drama set in Sub-Sahara Africa. French with subtitles and written and directed by Montreal filmmaker Kim Nguyen, the story takes us on a hair-raising journey experienced through the eyes of the young African girl Komono (Rachel Mwanza).

Just 13-years old, Komono’s village is burned, her family executed and she is forced into the world of Rebel terrorists. Once captured there is no escape. She must witness and carryout horrific acts of cruelty and violence. Konomo develops a tender and short-lived romance with a fellow soldier, an albino called the Magician (Serge Kanyinda). He is barely much older than she. The film has received international attention. Nguyen has given us access to a war ravaged world we have only vaguely heard about. Its raw focus on war and its exploitation of  children is unsettling yet through brilliant acting, storytelling and direction we are no less given tender moments won and lost we usually associate with coming of age. War Witch is winner of the Tribeca Film Festival’s Best Actress Award for Rachel Mwanza and the Best Narrative Feature Award; Winner Silver Bear for Best Actress Berlinale 2012; War Witch also accumulated 12 Canadian Screen Award nominations (March 3^rd), and is up for a Spirit Award Best International film. This extraordinary film is available on VOD.

Check out our Foreign Film Nominees in the Limelight feature.

Excellent reviews of War Witch and interviews with Director Kim Nguyen:

Filmmaker Magazine

TribecaFilm 

The foreign language films in the Oscar race are each a remarkable film experience. See them.

Best foreign language film of the year nominees:

• “Amour” Austria
  “Kon-Tiki” Norway
  “No” Chile
  “Royal Affair” Denmark
  “War Witch” Canada

-Moira Romano