The Academy Award for Chutzpah goes to … the Academy
Okay, it's true that I haven't seen any of this year's nominees for best foreign-language film. Maybe "The Counterfeiters" was the best of the bunch.
Still, on principle, it bugs me: Israel finally has a great chance to win its first Oscar (for "Beaufort") – and loses to an Austrian picture about the Holocaust!?! To add insult to injury, it was written and directed by director-writer Stefan Ruzowitzky, a descendant of Nazis and/or Nazi sympathizers.
Yes, Ruzowitzky, was quite gracious in victory, paying homage to the Jewish directors who were exiled from his native land prior to World War II. But the bottom line is there should be a rule against Israeli films losing to Holocaust-themed movies made in countries that sided with the Nazis.
And don't get me started on Leni Riefenstahl.
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Ruthie
02/25/08 04:37 PM
Please, this man had a lot of courage directing such a film about the holocaust. This is a good thing, as Austria has not often been as apologetic as she should be about the holocaust. I think it is great that their first award for Best Foreign Film should be about a topic so close to their hearts, if you know what I mean.
I salute the director, Stefan Ruzowitzky for in spite of his family history, he has gone ahead with bringing a true story to the screen from a country that was so involved in such a tragedy.