The award season is on, and the Oscar is the biggest one of them all. This year, there are several Latin nominees in three major categories: Best Supporting Actress, Best Short Film (animated), and Best Foreign Language Film.
Here are the nominees:
Best Supporting Actress:
Penélope Cruz – Nine
In the movie Nine (based on a musical adaptation of Federico Fellini’s autobiographical film 8½ from 1963) Penélope Cruz portrays Carla, the passionate mistress of a married film director Guido Contini.
Foreign Languge Film:
The Milk of Sorrow (La Teta Asustada)
Perú. Director: Claudia Llosa. 2009
The film deals with the pain and trauma suffered by women during Peru’s violent period from 1980-1992, and how many young women bear emotional scars that have been passed on to them by their victimized mothers through their breast milk. For the withdrawn Fausta, this legacy is a crippling burden that informs the most intimate aspects of her life.
El Secreto De Sus Ojos
Argentina. Director: Juan José Campanella. 2009
Retired criminal prosecutor Benjamin Esposito (actor Ricardo Darin) decides to write a novel based on a 25-year-old rape and murder case. The resolution of that case has long haunted him, and he turns to his friends and former colleagues for help. Finding the truth becomes not only a literary objective but the key to live the rest of his life.
Short Film (animated):
The Lady and The Reaper (La Dama y La Muerte)
Spain. Director: Javier Recio Gracia. 2009
The Grim Reaper and a self-satisfied doctor battle over the life of an elderly woman.
Now our predictions:
We don’t think Penélope Cruz is going to win, she already won last year. Besides, if you saw the Golden Globes and the SAG awards, M’onique won in that category for Precious and most likely will win again.
In the Foreign Film category, as much as we want to be impartial, we have to have faith in The Milk of Sorrow, not only because it comes from the author’s country, but also for the many recognitions that the film has earned. But El Secreto de sus Ojos look really interesting. Having a nomination of this magnitude is fantastic, and it’s not common to have two Latin movies in this category.
Now we just have to wait for the results, which are going to be announced on Sunday, March 7th at 8pm ET, 5pm PT on CBS.
In the meantime, what do you think?