Want to up your film-watching game this year but not sure where to start? With the 98th Academy Awards taking place in March, see which nominated film best fits your Languages, Cultures, and Film degree!
Basque, Catalan, and Spanish: Sirāt (dir. Óliver Laxe)
Led by Spanish actor Sergi López, Sirāt follows a father in search of his daughter in the Southern Moroccan desert. Joined by a group of ravers, Sirāt is an intense watch, earning itself a Best International Feature Film nomination. Interestingly, whilst Sirāt’s main language is Spanish, it features French, English, and Arabic, with the film being a Spanish-French co-production and thus a good watch for someone interested in transnational cinema.
Chinese: Hamnet (dir. Chloé Zhao)
Making history as the first woman of colour to win Best Director in 2020 with Nomadland, Chloé Zhao delivers another wonderfully touching drama with Hamnet. A dramatised telling of William, Agnes, and their son Hamnet Shakespeare, the film recounts the journey that may have inspired the famous play, Hamlet, and is a must-watch in the Chinese director’s filmography.
Film Studies: One Battle After Another (dir. Paul Thomas Anderson)
Nominated in a whopping 13 categories, Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another follows ex-revolutionary Bob and his daughter Willa, with Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood composing an electrifying score that draws you into the film and does not let go, keeping its momentum throughout the entire 2h 40m runtime. One Battle After Another is a masterclass in cinematography, editing, and storytelling, making it a must-watch for any film student.
French and Italian: It Was Just an Accident (dir. Jafar Panahi)
Like Sirāt, Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just an Accident is also a co-production, this time between France, Iran, and Luxembourg. It Was Just an Accident is a thriller with political themes, following a group of former Iranian political prisoners. Although Italy’s entry for Best International Feature Film did not make the Oscars nominations, the entry from fellow romance-language country France is still a relevant watch for any languages student interested in film.
German: Frankenstein (dir. Guillermo Del Toro)
Whilst Mary Shelley’s original novel is primarily set in Switzerland, Germany is a crucial setting in the story, being the very place where Frankenstein’s monster is created. Praised for its cinematography, costume, and set design, gothic fairy-tale director Guillermo Del Toro’s adaptation is a great pick for anyone studying German, reminding us of Victor Frankenstein and his time at the University of Ingolstadt.
Portuguese: The Secret Agent (dir. Kleber Mendonça Filho)
Last but not least, for those studying Portuguese, make sure to watch Brazilian director Kleber Mendonça Filho’s The Secret Agent. Starring Wagner Moura, the film is an interesting look at Brazilian politics as protagonist Armando navigates life under a military dictatorship. Nominated for Best Picture and Best Actor alongside Best International Feature Film, make sure to watch this captivating film.