VietNamNet Bridge – The shortened list of the Best Foreign Film of the Oscar 2012 does have Vietnamese movie “Khat Vong Thang Long” (Thang Long Aspiration).

“Thang Long Aspiration” to go to Oscar 2012
Only three Vietnamese films considered for Oscar
It is a surprise when the list does not have the name of China’s “Flowers of War”, by famous director Zhang Yimou, “Le Havre”, a Finland’s film which won the FIPRESCI award at the Cannes Film Festival or “Where Do We Go Now?” of Lebanon, which took the Audience’s Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival.

Other notable movies which are not in the list include: “The Turin Horse” of Hungary, “Once Upon a Time in Anatolia” of Turkey, “Miss Bala” of Mexico and “Declaration of War” of France.

The only one Asian movie in the list is “Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale” of Taiwan.

The films in this list comprises: “A Separation” of Iran, which won the Golden Globe Award, Poland’s “In Darkness”, Germany’s “Pina”, Canada’s “Monsieur Lazhar”, Denmark’s “SuperClasico”, Morocco’s Omar Killed Me” and Belgium’s “Bullhead”.

“A Separation” is considered the number-one nominee at Oscar because it is highly appreciated by critics and won 39 prizes.

Featuring the chaotic transition period of Vietnam’s feudal Le and Ly Dynasty in 9th century, “Thang Long Aspiration” won a silver prize for Best Film and two golden prizes for Best Director and Best Supporting Actor at Vietnam’s Oscar-equivalent Golden Kite Award last year.

The film director – Luu Trong Ninh – had told VietNamNet before his product was sent to the US that he was very happy, but he did not have high hopes that his film would be nominated for the five finalists at the Oscar’s Best Foreign Language Movie Award.

The 84th annual Academy awards will take place at the Kodak theatre in Los Angeles on February 26, 2012.

Hoang Vy