Here are the Best International Feature Film nominees for the 2022 Oscars that will air on March 27, 2022. Not only does the ceremony get a bad rap, but the films too, and the 2022 Oscars are no exception. The movies are long, or the films are out of touch. Those are just a couple of complaints. Not going to lie, most of these Best International Feature Film nominees for the 2022 Oscars are over two hours long. That doesn’t mean that they’re boring. These films nominated at the 94th Academy Awards are all unique in their own way. The nominees are: Drive My Car, Flee, The Hand of God, Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom, and The Worst Person in the World. These films nominated for the 94th Academy Awards are vastly different from each other. That doesn’t mean Drive My Car is better than Flee.
Different by no means is a bad thing. These are all their own story with different narrative styles. You should know certain things before watching the Best International Feature Film nominees from the 94th Academy Awards. Firstly, these films are in a language other than English. Watching subtitles is best or disrespecting the movie entirely by dubbing them. There is sexual content in Drive My Car, The Worst Person in the World, and The Hand of God. Flee has implied sexual assault and could be triggering for some. There is strong language and violence seen in these Best International Film nominees, and they are not suitable for minors. At the end of this, there will be some notable mentions not nominated for Oscars.
Drive My Car (Japan)
Drive My Car is about a middle-aged, widowed actor Yūsuke Kafuku (Hidetoshi Nishijima), that employs a chauffeur due to his failing eyesight. A young woman named Misaki Watari (Tōko Miura) is the skilled driver hired to drive Yūsuke around, and the two form a bond. This is one of the longer films of the Best International Feature Films nominees for the 94th Academy Awards, at 179 minutes long. Though it may be slow at parts, Hidetoshi Nishijima’s portrayal of Yūsuke is endearing. He may have a hard exterior, but he’s a marshmallow and his friendship with Misaki, who comes from an abusive home, is wonderful to watch. Japanese audiences love it, and the Academy of the 94th Academy Awards added to its roster of films. Drive My Car addresses loss, guilt, friendship, and love in different forms and is most definitely worth the watch. Available to stream on HBO Max.
Flee (Denmark)
Flee is an easy watch for a very tough subject. It may be animated, but it’s a documentary that tells the story of Amin Nawabi’s traumatic journey and emigration from Afghanistan. This is one of the nominees for Best International Feature Film that could be triggering. It shares Amin’s experiences of racism, witnessing what will be a sexual assault, and living in a war zone. The animation perfectly captures Amin Nawabi’s personality and shows how lighthearted he is despite the terrible things he lived through and witnessed as a child. It’s 90 minutes long but shares profound moments in Nawabi’s life. It deserves the recognition it has received and is one of the best films for the 94th Academy Awards. Flee deserves to be one of the nominees for Best International Feature Film and is available to stream on Hulu.
The Hand of God (Italy)
Just like Flee, The Hand of God could have some triggering moments. There is sexual content, domestic violence, nudity, and a sprinkle of incestual feelings. This film is 130 minutes and is one of the longer films for the 94th Academy Awards. The Hand of God is about Fabietto Schisa (Filippo Scotti) as he navigates adolescence, loss, and tries to find meaning in his life. Fabietto is a fictionalized younger version of the director of the film Paolo Sorrentino. The family portrayed in this will make you scratch your head, and some moments are uncomfortable to watch. It’s one of the most shocking nominees for Best International Feature Film. Shocking since there are things no teenage boy should be exposed to. This film is available to stream on Netflix.
Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom (Bhutan)
The Worst Person in the World (Norway)
One of the favored films to win an award at the 94th Academy Awards is The Worst Person in the World. It’s not a war movie or about a psychopath, just a young woman that tries finding direction in her life and love. The protagonist is Julie (Renate Reinsve), she can be indecisive in all aspects of her life, but she is relatable and deeply human. The Worst Person in the World does a brilliant job just showing a snapshot of a millennial woman’s life without grotesque over-sexualization or extreme events to tell her story. Yes, it’s 128 minutes long, but it’s a lovely story, not in the way Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom or the way Drive My Car, and that’s okay. This film is one of the easiest watches among the Best International Feature Film nominees. It’s available in theaters and is coming soon to Hulu.
Notable Mentions and Last Thoughts on Nominees
These are some films that are not among the nominees for Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards but deserve recognition:
Titane (France)
Petite Maman (France)
I’m Your Man (Germany)
What Do We See When We Look at the Sky (German-Georgian)
Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy (Japan)
That’s it for the list of nominees and notable mentions. Drive My Car, Flee, The Hand of God, Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom and The Worst Person in the World are unique in showing and telling their stories. Watching films from other countries exposes us to different cultures and identities. These films for the 94th Academy Awards are no exception. Some may be lengthy, but that doesn’t mean they are less worthy of your time. Movies like Flee could be hard to watch, but just like this movie, they are important stories that need to be told. Don’t let having to read subtitles keep you from a great cinematic experience.
Which of the nominees for Best International Feature Film do you think will win?
