The Best International Feature film nominees for the 2023 Oscars are eclectic. They include Close from Belgium, EO from Poland, All Quiet on the Western Front from Germany, Argentina, 1985 from (you guessed it) Argentina, and The Quiet Girl from Ireland. There is wholesome content in the films but also tragedy, and that’s not just for All Quiet on the Western Front. Not all of them are over two hours long, so that’s a benefit. There are only two more days to catch on this category of the Oscars. If you manage to watch all the nominees for Best International Feature Film for the 2023 Oscars, it includes one also nominated for Best Picture. You have a war film, a film that talks about war crimes, a girl that thrives with a little love and attention, a donkey, and a broken friendship.
Just know that some of these films have graphic content. There are mentions of suicide, torture, and violence. Any of these films would be worth watching with family or friends, especially EO. Not all of them are long, but some are lengthy, so mentally prepare yourself for that.
EO (Poland)
This is by far the least depressing of the Best International Film nominees at the 2023 Oscars and the shortest. It’s only 88 minutes long. Much like the wholesome nominee from last year, Yak in the Classroom, this involves an animal. Not only does this involve an animal, but the donkey is the main character. It’s inspired by Robert Bresson’s 1966 film Au Hasard Balthazar. EO follows a donkey born in a Polish circus. The donkey switches owners throughout and goes on quite the adventures, with a lot of drama surrounding it. There is no drama surrounding this film or the loveable creature at its center. This is the ideal movie for you if you like an animal protagonist, and it doesn’t hurt that has earned lots of accolades.
Close (Belgium)
The length of Close, which is 104 minutes, will be the least of your worries. This movie contains the suicide of a minor, just be warned. Close follows the friendship of two thirteen-year-old boys. One starts separating himself from the other when his peers start assuming that their relationship is something other than platonic. The film deals with grief, regret, and how societal pressures affect close relationships. The boys are physically affectionate with each other. Their level of intimacy makes their classmates ask unwanted questions and throw homophobic slurs their way. The film shows how toxicity invades children’s minds, leading to the boy distancing himself from his childhood friend. It’s among the harder Best International Feature Film nominees for the 2023 Oscars. It’s well-filmed, and the friendship between the boys is lovely.
All Quiet on the Western Front (Germany)
At 147 minutes, this is the longest film of the nominees for Best International Feature Film at the 2023 Oscars. Just the first fifteen minutes of the movie show the brutality and expendable nature of soldiers in World War I. It’s based on the novel of the same name by  Erich Maria Remarque. This film in no way glamorizes war. All Quiet on the Western Front is a no-frills war film. It’s a bunch of young soldiers beholden to the egos of their commanding officers. The cinematography is impeccable, and the acting is excellent. This is favored to win the Best International Feature Film category. Even if you don’t like war films, it’s still worth watching how well put together this film is. The film is from Germany’s perspective, but that doesn’t make the film any less engaging. There are no heroes in the film, and it leans toward anti-war.
The Quiet Girl (Ireland)
Though the title would be great for a horror film, this film is far from a horror. It’s only 94 minutes long and is one of the more wholesome film nominees of the 2023 Oscars. You may be wondering why an English-speaking country is in the Best International Feature Film categories at the Oscars. That’s because this film is in Ireland’s native Irish language, that the British had previously tried to beat out of the culture. A nine-year-old girl gets sent to some distant relatives to be taken care of as her mother prepares to give birth to her baby brother. She starts off quiet (as the title says) but grows to love and become close with her relatives. The girl was mostly ignored by her siblings and parents prior to being sent out. It’s a sweet movie and highlights the Irish language.
Argentina, 1985 (Argentina)
Argentina, 1985 is the last of the nominees of the 2023 Oscars, but certainly not the least. It is the longest of the Best International Film nominees of the 2023 Oscars at 147 minutes. It follows the Chief Prosecutor, who gets a team together to try several military officials for their acts during the National Reorganization Process from 1976 to 1983. It’s based on true events, and many details are shared by victims during the military dictatorship. The Chief Prosecutor’s family and his team receive death threats, and there is a lot of opposition to the trial. The trial is significant to shaping the political future of Argentina and holding people in power accountable. Both the story and acting are very compelling, and victims recounting their experiences is hard to listen to. Just know that the film does mention violence, assault, and murder, just like the true story.
2023 Oscars Best International Film Nominees: EO, Close, All Quiet on the Western Front, The Quiet Girl, Argentina, 1985
Share your thoughts on the Best International Feature Film nominees for the 2023 Oscars. This All Quiet on the Western Front is very different from its American-made predecessors. Some of the films are wholesome, and others are sad and violent. Each is unique and worth watching for its different stories. If you haven’t guessed, All Quiet on the Western Front is the film that is also nominated for Best Picture at the 2023 Oscars. Films like The Quiet Girl bring light to lesser-known languages and open the door for cultural awareness on a global scale.
