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German comedy among favourites to win foreign language Oscar

The Local Germany
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German comedy among favourites to win foreign language Oscar
Actress Sandra Hüller has already won a gong for her role in Toni Erdmann. Photo: DPA

Bittersweet comedy Toni Erdmann has been put on the shortlist for the best foreign language film at the 2017 Oscars - the latest recognition for the German film.

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Director Maren Ade’s two-and-a-half-hour epic swept up at the European Film Awards on December 10th, winning the best film, director, actress, actor and screenwriter prizes.

And now it has been selected among nine candidates on the short list for the foreign film Oscar, after a record 85 submissions were made for the prestigious award, Variety reports.

The movie about a father who takes on the guise of a German ambassador in an attempt to save his daughter from a dreary career working in consulting, will compete against another film focused on German history, Denmark’s Land of Mine.

The Danish film centres on a group of German POWs who are made to clear Danish beaches of Nazi mines following the Second World War.

Scandinavia has a strong presence on the short list with Sweden’s A man called Ove and  Norway’s The King’s Choice both also still in contention.

Three German movies have previously won the Oscar for best foreign language film.  The Tin Drum, an adaptation of Günter Grass’ most celebrated novel won in 1980. This century Nowhere in Africa (2003) and The lives of Others (2007) have both picked up the gong.

The Oscars are to be held on February 26th.

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