November is a 2017 Estonian fantasy drama film which was selected as the Estonian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 90th Academy Awards. It was however not nominated.
It has been directed by Rainer Sarnet and is based on Andrus Kivirähk’s novel Rehepapp ehk November (Old Barny aka November), which is a bestseller of the last 20 years.
The story takes place in a 19th century pagan Estonian village which is inhabited by personified Black Death, spirits, werewolves and the evil.
The villagers’ main problem is how to survive the cold, dark winter. And, to that aim, nothing is taboo. People steal from each other, from their German manor lords, and from spirits, the devil, and Christ.
The main character of the film is a young farm girl named Liina. She longs for a village boy Hans, while Hans longs for a daughter of an aristocrat. Both try to use mythical powers so that their unrequited love could change into requited love. However, the mythical powers don’t give them what they wanted and in the end Hans dies before Liina and Hans could get together.
Cast
• Rea Lest as Liina
• Jörgen Liik as Hans
• Arvo Kukumägi as Rein
• Katariina Unt as Luise
• Taavi Eelmaa as Ints
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited the film industries of various countries to submit their best film for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film since 1956. This year record number of 92 films have been submitted for consideration in this year’s foreign-language Oscar race.
Among the first-time entrants are Haiti, Honduras, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Mozambique, Senegal, and Syria.
”November” did not manage to get shortlisted. From the longlist, nine finalists were shortlisted in late 2017, with the final five nominees scheduled to be announced on 23 January 2018.
Shortlisted films are:
Chile, A Fantastic Woman
Germany, In the Fade
Hungary, On Body and Soul
Israel, Foxtrot
Lebanon, The Insult
Russia, Loveless
Senegal, Félicité
South Africa, The Wound
Sweden, The Square
The Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 4 2018 and will be broadcast live to more than 225 countries.
Poster: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6164502/mediaviewer/rm1862745856
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6nXObRVhRc
Image: screen photo: trailer, YouTube
Source: http://www.imdb.com/, Wikipedia, Hollywood Reporter
List entries
Albania:
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria:
Bulgarian Glory about morality issues is the submission for Oscars 2018
Croatia:
Quit Staring at My Plate dealing with freedom is a Croatian submission for Oscars 2017
Georgia:
Georgian Scary mother goes for Oscars 2018 in the category Best Foreign Language Film
Hungary:
A unique love story On Body and Soul is a Hungarian entry for Oscars 2017
Kosovo:
Kosovan entry for Oscars: Unwanted deals with forgiveness and reconciliation
Latvia:
Lithuania:
Lithuanian entry for Oscars: Frost shows war-torn Donbass region and scores for authenticity
Poland:
Polish film productions with big chances of winning Oscars 2018
Slovenia:
