OT: Best Foreign Language Film

As you may know, I’m only interested in the Foreign Language Film category. The nominees to the 88th Academy Awards are:

A War (Denmark) Directed by Tobias Lindholm. Synopsis: Claus Pedersen, a Danish army commander in Afghanistan, does his best to lead his men with integrity and maintain their morale after one of their young comrades is killed by a landmine. During an unexpected siege, Claus makes a split-second decision that will have a life-changing effect on him, his company and his family. Thus far, there’s no release date in Spain from what I know. You can watch the trailer here.

Embrace of the Serpent (Colombia) Directed by Ciro Guerra. Synopsis: In 1909, Colombian shaman Karamakate guides German explorer Theo on an expedition through the Amazonian wilderness to locate a sacred plant, which may cure Theo’s puzzling illness. Forty years later, Karamakate again witnesses the changes wrought by Westerners on the region’s indigenous peoples when he embarks on a similar journey with an American scientist. Release date in Spain: 19 February 2016. You can watch the trailer here.

Mustang (France) Directed by Deniz Gamze Ergüven. Synopsis: Five orphaned, teenage sisters enjoy the summer in their village in northern Turkey, but one day, their romping with male friends is misinterpreted and reported to their family as sexual licentiousness. Determined to keep the girls pure, the family effectively imprisons them, prompting the girls to become even more closely knit as they rebel against their arranged marriages. Release date in Spain: 11 March 2016. You can watch the trailer here.

Son of Saul (Hungary) Directed by László Nemes. Synopsis: In October 1944, Saul Ausländer is a Hungarian member of the Sonderkommando, a group of Jewish prisoners forced to lead other inmates in Auschwitz-Birkenau to their deaths and dispose of their bodies in the crematoriums. One day, Saul finds a young boy and, taking him for his son, tries to arrange for a proper Jewish funeral for him. Release date in Spain: 15 January 2016. You can watch the trailer here.

Theeb (Jordan) Directed by Naji Abu Nowar. Synopsis: In Hejaz province, Arabia, recently orphaned brothers Hussein and Theeb, who live a traditional Bedouin life, are caught up in the world events of 1916 when a British officer asks them to guide him through the desert to strategically important Ottoman train tracks. Their journey, fraught with danger, leads them in an unanticipated direction. Thus far, there’s no release date in Spain from what I know. You can watch the trailer here.