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“Listen”, the Portuguese film chosen as a candidate for the Oscars 2021 in the category of “Best International Film” was disqualified for the language.
The film has 10 minutes of dialogue in a language other than English and 21 minutes of dialogue in English. This means that 32% of the film is spoken in a language other than English and the rule states that it should be a maximum of 50%.
“For that reason and for being a candidate for a Portuguese film, he was disqualified,” explains Ana Rocha de Sousa to the SIC.
Director Gonçalo Waddington also responded by posting on Facebook.
“It is a pity that the Portuguese Academy ignores the language rule contained in the Oscars regulations of the Academy of Cinema, Arts and Sciences,” he says.
Director Ana Rocha de Sousa’s first feature film tells the story of a Portuguese family emigrated to the United Kingdom who see life go backwards when British social services take custody of children on suspicion of abuse. With a Portuguese-British co-production, the film was shot outside London, with a Portuguese and English cast. “Listen” had its premiere, in September, at the Venice Film Festival, in Italy, where it came out with six awards.
The members of the Portuguese Film Academy will have to vote again between “Mosquito”, “Patrick” or “Vitalina Varela”.
“Mosquito”by João Nuno Pinto – shows the adventures and quest for glory of Zacarías, a Portuguese soldier, during the First World War. He is sent to Mozambique, where, abandoned by his platoon and sick with malaria, the young soldier takes us on a mind-blowing journey through a rarely portrayed side of the history of this war.
“Patrick”by Gonçalo Waddington – Mário is a boy who was kidnapped when he was 8 years old and who later became Patrick. It is a film about child trafficking, pedophilia and family breakdown.
“Vitalina Varela”by Pedro Costa – is the story of a 55-year-old Cape Verdean woman who arrives in Portugal three days after her husband’s funeral. A trip that was going to happen 25 years ago.
Postponed eight weeks, due to the new coronavirus pandemic, the 93rd edition of the Oscars is scheduled for April 25, 2021 in Los Angeles. The films contemplated may be released until the end of February, contrary to the usual limit of December 31.
