It’s decided. Denmark’s national Oscars committee have decided that the submission for the 2015 Academy Awards’ ‘Best Foreign Language Film’ Oscar is critics’ favourite ‘A War’.
Written and directed by Denmark’s fastest-rising star, Tobias Lindholm, ‘A War’ has already been sold to over 20 countries, including the USA, and has been called “a rigorous, engrossing anatomy of a suspected war crime” by Variety magazine.
Accolades aplenty already
‘A War‘ has already scooped the Sundance Film Festival’s Global Filmmaking Award and was nominated for the Venice Horizons Award earlier this year. The realism of the war scenes is helped by a cast that features many Danish veterans from the Afghanistan conflict.
Lindholm’s previous work includes script credits for the entire first two seasons of massive international TV success ‘Borgen’ and co-writing ‘The Hunt’, Denmark’s nominee at the 2014 Oscars.
Launchpad for leading man
The film follows the active service of company commander Claus Pedersen (Pilou Asbæk) in Afghanistan as his wife and three children cope without him back in Denmark. Upon his return, Pedersen’s actions in Afghanistan have severe consequences for him and his family.
Asbæk featured in Lindholm’s directorial debut ‘R’, played spin doctor Kasper Juul in ‘Borgen’ and has recently been cast in Emmy-winning TV series ‘Game of Thrones’. ‘A War’ is his third film collaboration with Lindholm in addition to their TV work together.
Flying the flag high
As Nordic Noir’s successes keep coming and Danish actors keep on finding major roles in international series and productions, it’s clear that Danish film and TV is enjoying a golden age.
The next step for ‘A War‘ is making the nine-film shortlist, which is normally confirmed in December, and then making the final five nominations, which are announced in mid-January.
Next year’s Academy Awards are scheduled to take place on February 28.
