SPAIN'S candidate for 'Best International Film' at the 2022 Oscars has been revealed – one that shows 'Bond villain' Javier Bardem as the 'perfect' business owner.
Screenshot of Skyfall ‘baddie’ Javier Bardem in El Buen Patrón ('The Good Boss')
El Buen Patrón ('The Good Boss') stars the husband of Almodóvar Girl-turned-Hollywood legend Penélope Cruz, who is probably best known to non-Spanish-speaking cinema fans for being the 'baddie' in Daniel Craig's Skyfall.
Director Fernando León de Aranoa's drama will now join films from countries all over the world in the race to reach the nominee list and the chance to take home the coveted statuette at the 94th edition of the awards, due to be presented on March 27 next year.
Javier Bardem was actually competing with his own wife for the candidature – Penélope Cruz's lead rôle in cult director Pedro Almodóvar's Madres Paralelas ('Parallel Mothers') was one of the three pre-selected along with Marcel Barrena's Mediterráneo ('Mediterranean').
In total, 48 films were gunning for the top three selected by Spain's Cinematographic Arts and Sciences Academy; cast, directors and crew of 45 of them had their hopes dashed on September 14 when El Buen Patrón, Madres Paralelas and Mediterráneo were chosen; and it was announced this morning (Tuesday, October 5) that El Buen Patrón had made the cut.
The final choice was made by Irene Escolar, who won Best New Actress at the Goya Awards for her part in Un Otoño Sin Berlín ('An Autumn Without Berlin') and Ricardo Gómez, nominated for Best New Actor Goya for 1898. Los Últimos de Filipinas ('1898. The Last of the Philippines').
Just before opening the envelope revealing the candidate's name, Irene and Ricardo read extracts from the 1953 film by Luis García Berlanga and Juan Antonio Bardem, Esa Pareja Feliz ('That Happy Couple') as a tribute to National Spanish Film Day, which is tomorrow (Wednesday, October 6).
Strong candidates Spain will be up against in the running for the top-10 shortlist and, subsequently, the top-five list – the 'nominations' – include Colombia's Memoria ('Memory') by Apichatpong Weerasethakul; Germany's I'm Your Man by Maria Schrader; and South Korea's Escape from Mogadishu, by Ryoo Seung-wan.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com