2 Japanese films nominated for Oscars

Friday 23rd January, 06:18 AM JST

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terebiko at 03:47 PM JST - 23rd January

saborichan, the foreigner isn't English, she is actually Shirley McClain's daughter! Her name now is Sachi Parker (Sachiko). I was surprised when 'nishi no majou ga shinda' came out and this fact was mentioned. She was raised in Japan, so she is fluent in Japanese. I want to see that movie, and Okuribito too. They both sound interesting. telecasterplayer (nice handle!), what movies do you think Hollywood ripped-off? Just curious.
yabits at 06:14 AM JST - 24th January

And how many foreign movies have been nominated for the Japanese version of the Oscars?

And who cares, baka?
yabits at 06:21 AM JST - 24th January

One of the more well-known rips was The Magnificent Seven -- a pretty direct take-off of Kurosawa's "Seven Samurai." Unfortunately, I can't think of many more.

The problem with those kinds of complaints is that they completely disregard the originality of scores of non-Japanese film-makers and films. Also, the fact that many of Kurosawa's films were heavily influenced by non-Japanese souls, such as William Shakespeare. (Ran is a pretty close rip of King Lear.)
neverknow2 at 08:26 AM JST - 24th January

Hollywood should honor and learn from them.

Um....No.
Betzee at 11:18 AM JST - 24th January

And how many foreign movies have been nominated for the Japanese version of the Oscars?

The Oscars have a category for foreign language film, in contrast to most national awards. Eligible movies can be filmed in the US, as was the case with Ang Lee's The Wedding Banquet, but the majority of the dialogue must be in a language other than English.
AlfGarnett at 03:40 PM JST - 24th January

These 2 films owners must have greased a few palms in Hollywood to get nominated, mark my words.
seeker1 at 04:40 PM JST - 24th January

There are, as you said, many great film makers around the world. It is nice that the Academy has a foreign film category, or many of these films would not be known to the average movie goer. I think all film makers learn from each others work, and hopefully it leads to better movies.

I am looking forward to seeing Okuribito, the story sounds interesting. Not a big fan of Masahiro Motoki (Mokkun), but I do like Ryoko Hirosue.
Betzee at 12:14 AM JST - 25th January

These 2 films owners must have greased a few palms in Hollywood to get nominated, mark my words.

It would take more than a few, Alfie. The Academy has hundreds of members, though not all vote on every category. And the competition was stiff:

The Oscar® for Best Foreign Language Film became a competitive category in 1956, and subsequently the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited dozens of countries annually to submit what each considers its best film for consideration in that category. This year, a record 67 films have been accepted for competition....
realist at 12:23 AM JST - 25th January

seeker Cant understand why you are not a fan of Mokkun - he is brilliant in this movie. I hope you enjoy it. I am sure you will - and I hope it gets the Oscar.
Crokk at 01:20 AM JST - 25th January

I can't wait for Okuribito released on dvd, I love Ryoko ...
Gavin at 12:44 PM JST - 25th January
And how many foreign movies have been nominated for the Japanese version of the Oscars?
- The Japanese Academy Prize (Award) has a foreign language section - an almost replica of the Oscars' one. 30 seconds research on Google would discover this before commenting.
Betzee at 04:25 AM JST - 26th January

30 seconds research on Google would discover this before commenting.

I don't know what the name of the award is so it would have taken much longer to ascertain this fact. Besides, the person who asked the question could have consulted the list himself.

The Academy is the international gold standard from which all film-makers aspire recognition. Other national awards simply don't carry the same cache.

Because Chinese language film is much more influential internationally than Japanese cinema, some may have heard of Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards, the island's equivalent of the Oscars. But, in Asia, the more valuable awards are conferred at festivals. Korea's annual Pusan Film Festival has become akin to Sundance, crawling with people looking to make distribution deals. The Korean government has invested very heavily in promoting it, I doubt the Japanese government has made a similar effort.
Betzee at 04:35 AM JST - 26th January

The Japanese Academy Prize (Award) has a foreign language section - an almost replica of the Oscars' one.

The problem is, what does winning it confer? It might even be laughed at within the industry since few have even heard of this award. By contrast, even being long listed by the Academy, and the five nominees were drawn from a longer list of about 10 culled from the 67 invited submissions, will make it a lot easier for a film-maker to get his/her next project funded. That would be true regardless of nationality.
Gavin at 04:22 PM JST - 26th January

Betzee, misunderstanding there - my comment was for the original poster who I'm assuming asked the rhetorical question as a Japan-bash with no apparent knowledge of the reality of the situation, or interest in it. As you say, the American Academy Awards are indeed the ones that everybody looks to.
Betzee at 11:11 AM JST - 27th January

Betzee, misunderstanding there - my comment was for the original poster who I'm assuming asked the rhetorical question as a Japan-bash with no apparent knowledge of the reality of the situation, or interest in it. As you say, the American Academy Awards are indeed the ones that everybody looks to.

I did check out the site, thanks! It's clear the Japanese are largely validating Hollywood's choice for best picture. By contrast, the Academy Awards are validating talent (from a financial perspective anyway). An Oscar confers commercial viability to investors.