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Denmark gets (partial) Oscar nods

The Lego Movie may have been snubbed at the Oscars, but as if to compensate, Song of the Sea, the Irish animated film which knocked it from the nominations, was largely made by a Danish studio, while a Danish-Polish film is in the running for best Foreign Language Film.

Published: 15 January 2015 16:59 CET

Denmark gets (partial) Oscar nods

The Danish-Polish film Ida is nominated in the Foreign Language Film category. Photo: Opus Film/Music Box Films

As much as 40 percent of the animation for Song of the Sea was done in Viborg by Nørlum, the Danish studio which also co-produced the film.

"It means a whole lot to be nominated for an Oscar," said Frederik Villumsen, the studio's founder. "We are very proud to have helped to make Song of the Sea. To be honest, we are not the favourites, but I think that the film is a good underdog."

Ida, a Polish production made with support from the Danish Film Institute, was also announced as an Oscar nominee on Thursday. The film is primarily about a young Polish woman in the 1960s preparing to take her vows as a nun (see the trailer below).

Ida will face off against Russian film Leviathan, which on Sunday claimed the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film. The other entries in the category are Estonia/Georgian film Tangerines, Argentine black comedy Wild Tales and French-Mauritanian drama Timbuktu.

Denmark’s other best hope for having a horse in the Oscars race was The Lego Movie, the Hollywood blockbuster based on the world-famous Danish toys. That movie, however, was not nominated in the Best Animated Featured Film category, though it did garner a nod for the best original song with Everything is Awesome.

The Lego Movie’s director, Phil Lord, didn’t seem too put out by the apparent snub, however:

It's okay. Made my own! pic.twitter.com/kgyu1GRHGR

— philip lord (@philiplord) January 15, 2015

The Oscars will be handed out on February 22nd in Los Angeles. Neil Patrick Harris will host.

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Cinema in France

Photo: Loic Venance/AFP

The cinema group Lost in Frenchlation runs regular screenings of French films in the capital, with English subtitles to help non-native speakers follow the action. The club kicks off every screening with drinks at the cinema’s bar one hour before the movie, so it’s also a fun way to meet people if you’re new to Paris.

These are the events they have coming up in November.

Friday, November 5th

Boîte Noire – What happened on board the Dubai-Paris flight before it crashed in the Alps? In this thriller Matthieu, a young and talented black box analyst played by Pierre Niney (star of Yves Saint-Laurent among other movies) is determined to solve the reason behind this deadly crash, no matter the costs.

The screening will take place at the Club de l’étoile cinema at 8pm. But you can arrive early for drinks at the bar from 7pm.

Tickets are €10 full price, €8 for students and all other concessions, and can be reserved here.

Sunday, November 14th

Tralala – In the mood for music? This new delightful French musical brings you into the life of Tralala (played by Mathieu Amalric), a 48 years old, homeless and worn-out street singer, who one day gets mistaken for someone else. Tralala sees an opportunity to get a better life by taking on a new personality. He now has a brother, nephews, ex-girlfriends, and maybe even a daughter. But where is the lie? Where is the truth? And who is he, deep down?

The night will start with drinks from 6pm followed by the screening at 7pm at the Luminor Hôtel de Ville cinema. There is also a two-hour cinema-themed walk where you’ll be taken on a “musicals movie tour” in the heart of Paris, which begins at 4pm.

Tickets cost €10, or €8 for students and concessions, and can be found here. Tickets for the walking tour cost €20 and must be reserved online here.

Thursday, November 18th

Illusions Perdues – Based on the great novel series by Honoré de Balzac between 1837 and 1843, this historical drama captures the writer Lucien’s life and dilemmas who dreams about a great career of writing and moves to the city to get a job at a newspaper. As a young poet entering the field of journalism, he is constantly challenged by his desire to write dramatic and eye-catching stories for the press. But are they all true?

The evening will kick off with drinks at L’Entrepôt cinema bar at 7pm, followed by the movie screening at 8pm. Tickets are available online here, and cost €8.50 full price; €7 for students and all other concessions.

Sunday, November 21st

Eiffel – Having just finished working on the Statue of Liberty, Gustave Eiffel (played by Romain Duris) is tasked with creating a spectacular monument for the 1889 Universal Exposition in Paris. It’s ultimately his love story with Adrienne Bourgès (Emma Mackey) that will inspire him to come up with the idea for the Eiffel Tower.

After a first screening last month, Lost in Frenchlation is organising a new one at the Luminor Hôtel de Ville cinema, with pre-screening drinks at the cinema bar.

Tickets cost €10, or €8 for students and concessions, and can be found here.

Thursday, November 25th

Les Héroïques – Michel is a former junkie and overgrown child who only dreams of motorbikes and of hanging out with his 17-year-old son Léo and his friends. But at 50 years old, he now has to handle the baby he just had with his ex, and try not to make the same mistakes he has done in the past.

The film will be followed by a Q&A with the director Maxime Roy who will discuss his very first feature.

Tickets cost €10, or €8 for students and concessions, and can be found here.

Full details of Lost in Frenchlation’s events can be found on their website or Facebook page. In France, a health pass is required in order to go to the cinema.

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