One can only imagine how the race for Best International Feature Film may have looked if India had submitted critics darling RRR as their selection this year. Or if the Academy had bothered to nominate Park Chan-wook’s Decision to Leave. But, as it stands, Germany’s All Quiet on the Western Front now has a practically unassailable path to the Oscars stage. And it has the nine nominations to prove its total dominance over this category.
That’s not to say the Academy didn’t select four other stellar films. It’s a phenomenal line-up this year, and, frankly, in any other season, all four contenders could have won this prize. But it’s not to be. While it failed to win at Critics Choice or the Golden Globes, All Quiet on the Western Front peaked at just the right moment (seven BAFTA wins including Best Film) and sailed to not only become the 14th non-English language film to be nominated for Best Picture but eight other nods as well.
It’s a strong chance to score at least one or two wins elsewhere and might even be the dark horse to upset the Best Picture race. You really can’t see anything other than this German war epic taking home the international prize this year. In an Oscars race dominated by categories that feel unusually wide open, this one is decidedly all locked up.
BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FINAL PREDICTION:
1. All Quiet on the Western Front (Germany) – BAFTA, CCA, GG
2. Argentina, 1985 (Argentina) – BAFTA, CCA, GG
3. Close (Belgium) – CCA, GG
4. The Quiet Girl (Ireland) – BAFTA
5. EO – (Poland)
Will win: All Quiet on the Western Front
Should win: All Quiet on the Western Front
Possible shocker: The Quiet Girl