When Countries Choose Wrongly
by penchofifteenpolls | created - 1 month ago | updated - 1 month ago | PublicAnatomie d'une chute (2023) is one of the most acclaimed and nominated films at the 96th Academy Awards, but it comes as a surprise that it is not in contention for the International Film Oscar.
The reason for this is that, in order to compete in that category, the country of origin of the film has to submit it for consideration, and each country can submit only one film.
If Anatomie d'une chute (2023) had been submitted, it would be the favorite to win the award; instead, the field is open for other contenders.
It is not the first time that a foreign country submits a film instead of another that ends up being better liked at the Oscars.
In which of these cases do you think the submitting country made the biggest mistake?
After voting, share your opinion.
Poll by Pencho15
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1. Anatomy of a Fall (2023)
R | 151 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
A woman is suspected of murder after her husband's death; their half-blind son faces a moral dilemma as the main witness.
Director: Justine Triet | Stars: Sandra Hüller, Swann Arlaud, Milo Machado-Graner, Antoine Reinartz
Votes: 120,000
France submitted La passion de Dodin Bouffant (2023) instead of Cannes Award winner Anatomie d'une chute (2023).
Anatomy of a Fall went on to get five nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director, The Taste of Things failed to be nominated.
2. La Vie En Rose (2007)
PG-13 | 140 min | Biography, Drama, Music
Biopic of the iconic French singer Édith Piaf. Raised by her grandmother in a brothel, she was discovered while singing on a street corner at the age of 19. Despite her success, Piaf's life was filled with tragedy.
Director: Olivier Dahan | Stars: Marion Cotillard, Sylvie Testud, Pascal Greggory, Emmanuelle Seigner
Votes: 90,745 | Gross: $10.30M
France submitted Persepolis (2007) instead of La Môme (2007).
Although Persepolis got nominated for Best Animated Film it didn't make it into the Foreign Language Film category. La Vie En Rose went on to win Best Actress and Best Makeup.
3. Talk to Her (2002)
R | 112 min | Drama, Mystery, Romance
Two men share an odd friendship while they care for two women who are both in deep comas.
Director: Pedro Almodóvar | Stars: Rosario Flores, Javier Cámara, Darío Grandinetti, Leonor Watling
Votes: 117,489 | Gross: $9.36M
Spain submitted Los lunes al sol (2002) instead of Hable con ella (2002).
Talk to Her went on to be nominated for Best Director and won Original Screenplay, while Mondays in the Sun failed to be nominated.
4. The Postman (1994)
PG | 108 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama
A simple Italian postman learns to love poetry while delivering mail to a famous poet, and then uses this to woo local beauty Beatrice.
Directors: Michael Radford, Massimo Troisi | Stars: Massimo Troisi, Philippe Noiret, Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Renato Scarpa
Votes: 39,001 | Gross: $21.85M
Italy submitted L'uomo delle stelle (1995) instead of Il postino (1994).
While The Star Maker got a Foreign Language film nomination, The Postman was much more successful getting nominations for Best Picture, Director, Actor, Adapted Screenplay and winning Original Dramatic Score
5. Cries & Whispers (1972)
R | 91 min | Drama
When a woman dying of cancer in early twentieth-century Sweden is visited by her two sisters, long-repressed feelings between the siblings rise to the surface.
Director: Ingmar Bergman | Stars: Harriet Andersson, Liv Ullmann, Kari Sylwan, Ingrid Thulin
Votes: 36,983 | Gross: $1.74M
Sweden submitted Scener ur ett äktenskap (1974) instead of Viskningar och rop (1972).
Scenes of a Marriage failed to be nominated, while Cries and Whispers got nominated for Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, Costume Design and won Best Cinematography.
6. Spirited Away (2001)
PG | 125 min | Animation, Adventure, Family
During her family's move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches and spirits, and where humans are changed into beasts.
Director: Hayao Miyazaki | Stars: Daveigh Chase, Suzanne Pleshette, Miyu Irino, Rumi Hiiragi
Votes: 849,224 | Gross: $10.06M
Japan submitted Out (2002) instead of Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi (2001).
Out failed to be nominated while Spirited Away went on to win Best Animated Film.
7. La Dolce Vita (1960)
Not Rated | 174 min | Comedy, Drama
A series of stories following a week in the life of a philandering tabloid journalist living in Rome.
Director: Federico Fellini | Stars: Marcello Mastroianni, Anita Ekberg, Anouk Aimée, Yvonne Furneaux
Votes: 78,205 | Gross: $19.52M
Italy submitted La notte (1961) instead of La dolce vita (1960).
The Night failed to get a nomination, while La Dolce Vita was nominated for Best Director, Writing, Art Direction and won Costume Design.
8. Divorce Italian Style (1961)
Not Rated | 105 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A married Sicilian baron falls in love with his cousin and vows to wed her, but with divorce illegal he must concoct a crime of passion to do away with his wife.
Director: Pietro Germi | Stars: Marcello Mastroianni, Daniela Rocca, Stefania Sandrelli, Leopoldo Trieste
Votes: 14,177
Italy submitted Le quattro giornate di Napoli (1962) instead of Divorzio all'italiana (1961).
While The Four Days of Naples got a Foreign Language nomination, Divorce Italian Style was more successful getting nominations for Best Director, Best Actor and winning Best Writing.
9. My Life as a Dog (1985)
Unrated | 101 min | Drama, Comedy
In the late '50s, young Ingemar learns a lot about life and himself when he is sent away from his sick mother to live with his aunt and uncle in a town full of eccentrics.
Director: Lasse Hallström | Stars: Anton Glanzelius, Tomas von Brömssen, Anki Lidén, Melinda Kinnaman
Votes: 22,531 | Gross: $8.35M
Sweden submitted Hip hip hurra! (1987) instead of Mitt liv som hund (1985).
Hip hip hurra! failed to be nominated, while My Life as a Dog got nominations for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay.
10. Ran (1985)
R | 160 min | Action, Drama, War
In Medieval Japan, an elderly warlord retires, handing over his empire to his three sons. However, he vastly underestimates how the new-found power will corrupt them and cause them to turn on each other...and him.
Director: Akira Kurosawa | Stars: Tatsuya Nakadai, Akira Terao, Jinpachi Nezu, Daisuke Ryû
Votes: 136,193 | Gross: $4.14M
Japan submitted Hana ichimonme (1985) instead of Ran (1985).
Gray Sunset failed to get a nomination, while Ran competed in Best Director, Cinematography, Art Direction and won Costume Design.
11. Das Boot (1981)
R | 149 min | Drama, War
A German U-boat stalks the frigid waters of the North Atlantic as its young crew experience the sheer terror and claustrophobic life of a submariner in World War II.
Director: Wolfgang Petersen | Stars: Jürgen Prochnow, Herbert Grönemeyer, Klaus Wennemann, Hubertus Bengsch
Votes: 264,330 | Gross: $11.49M
Germany submitted Fitzcarraldo (1982) instead of Das Boot (1981).
Fitzcarraldo failed to be nominated, while Das Boot got 6 nominations including Best Director, Cinematography, Adapted Screenplay, Editing, Sound and Sound Effects.
12. La Cage aux Folles (1978)
R | 97 min | Comedy
The manager of a Saint-Tropez nightclub featuring drag entertainment, and his star attraction, are a gay couple. Madness ensues when his straight son brings home a fiancée and her ultra-conservative parents to meet them.
Director: Édouard Molinaro | Stars: Ugo Tognazzi, Michel Serrault, Claire Maurier, Rémi Laurent
Votes: 11,907 | Gross: $20.42M
France submitted Une histoire simple (1978) instead of La Cage aux folles (1978).
While A Simple Story got a nomination, La Cage aux Folles did better getting three nominations for Best Director, Adapted Screenplay and Costume Design.
13. RRR (2022)
Not Rated | 187 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
A fearless warrior on a perilous mission comes face to face with a steely cop serving British forces in this epic saga set in pre-independent India.
Director: S.S. Rajamouli | Stars: N.T. Rama Rao Jr., Ram Charan, Ajay Devgn, Alia Bhatt
Votes: 167,270 | Gross: $14.50M
India submitted Chhello Show (2021) instead of RRR (Rise Roar Revolt) (2022).
Last Picture Show failed to be nominated, while RRR won for Best Original Song.
14. Maria Full of Grace (2004)
R | 101 min | Crime, Drama
A pregnant Colombian teenager becomes a drug mule to make some desperately-needed money for her family.
Director: Joshua Marston | Stars: Catalina Sandino Moreno, Guilied Lopez, Orlando Tobón, Virginia Cristina Ariza
Votes: 36,182 | Gross: $6.52M
Colombia submitted El rey (2004) instead of Maria Full of Grace (2004).
The King failed to be nominated, while Maria Full of Grace got a Best Actress nomination.
15. Parallel Mothers (2021)
R | 123 min | Drama
The story of two mothers who bond in unexpected way after giving birth the same day.
Director: Pedro Almodóvar | Stars: Penélope Cruz, Milena Smit, Israel Elejalde, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón
Votes: 35,968
Spain submitted El buen patrón (2021) instead of Madres paralelas (2021).
The Good Boss failed to be nominated, while Parallel Mothers got Best Actress and Best Original Score nominations.
16. Malena (2000)
R | 108 min | Drama, Romance, War
Amidst the war climate, a teenage boy discovering himself becomes love-stricken by Malèna, a sensual woman living in a small, narrow-minded Italian town.
Director: Giuseppe Tornatore | Stars: Monica Bellucci, Giuseppe Sulfaro, Luciano Federico, Matilde Piana
Votes: 111,985 | Gross: $3.45M
Italy submitted I cento passi (2000) instead of Malèna (2000).
The Hundred Steps failed to be nominated while Malena got Best Cinematography and Best Original Score nominations.
17. El Conde (2023)
R | 110 min | Comedy, Fantasy, History
After living 250 years in this world, Augusto Pinochet, who is not dead but an aged vampire, decides to die once and for all.
Director: Pablo Larraín | Stars: Jaime Vadell, Gloria Münchmeyer, Alfredo Castro, Paula Luchsinger
Votes: 13,303
Chile submitted Los colonos (2023) instead of El conde (2023).
The Settlers failed to get a nomination, while The Count got a Best Cinematography nomination.
18. And Your Mother Too (2001)
R | 106 min | Drama
In Mexico, two teenage boys and an older woman embark on a road trip and learn a thing or two about life and each other.
Director: Alfonso Cuarón | Stars: Maribel Verdú, Gael García Bernal, Daniel Giménez Cacho, Ana López Mercado
Votes: 128,878 | Gross: $13.62M
Mexico submitted Nadie te oye. Perfume de violetas (2001) instead of Y tu mamá también (2001).
Violet Perfume failed to be nominated, while And Your Mother Too got an Original Screenplay nomination.
19. The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)
R | 126 min | Adventure, Biography, Drama
Ernesto Guevara de la Serna, popularly known as Che, along with his friend Alberto Granado, decides to take a road trip across South America. His experiences on the journey transform him.
Director: Walter Salles | Stars: Gael García Bernal, Rodrigo de la Serna, Mía Maestro, Mercedes Morán
Votes: 104,774 | Gross: $16.78M
Neither Argentina, nor Brazil or Chile submitted Diarios de motocicleta (2004) choosing El abrazo partido (2004), Olga (2004) and Machuca (2004) instead.
None of the three countries manages a nomination, while The Motorcycle Diaries got an Adapted Screenplay nomination and an Oscar for Best Original Song.
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