Oscar Documentary Nominations
The documentary short list of 15 became 5 – to compete for the feature documentary Oscars. How many have you seen? Many FB’s have posted that question during the last few days after the final nomination had been announced. All 5 is my answer, so here come my comments to the 2017 Oscar selection. Let me again add that these are films members of the Academy Award of Motion Pictures have chosen. I have no idea of how many have been involved in the decision process – and let me also add again that Oscar is American and has always been_ One out of 5 film is from outside USA.
That one is Gianfranco Rosi’s ”Fire at Sea”, which is a good film but not extraordinary compared to many other films on the refugee topic. ”13th” by Ava DuVernay, mentioned by many as an outsider who could win is content-wise a strong Netflix title that deals with racism in the US historically – and pc – telling its story in an editing that is done according to words (interview-based) and not to image. A tv program. Then there is much more film and cinematic feeling in Raoul Peck’s strong ”I am not Your Negro” that I have reviewed on this site. The same goes for the film that everyone thinks will win, ”OJ: Made in America” (photo) by Ezra Edelman, reviewed by Allan Berg, when it was broadcasted on Danish television. Finally ”Life. Animated” by Roger Rose Williams is a well crafted sweet and charming documentary that impresses you because of the main character, who is autistic but in many ways overcomes his handicap. A crowd-pleaser.
Missing a film? Indeed: Kirsten Johnson’s ”Cameraperson” that was on the list of 15 but did not make it to the list of 5. Even if it is special compared to the topics in the films mentioned (racism, refugees, autism), there are so many human and ethical questions raised in her film about making films and deal with conflicts– in a way that should touch all of us because she talks with passion and compassion.
