In 1999, Spain selected “All About My Mother” as its submission for the Foreign Language Academy Award (now known as the International Film Oscar), and the Pedro Almodovar masterpiece won the coveted Oscar. Just three years later, the same Spanish committee passed over Almodovar’s follow-up, “Talk to Her,” which was even more critically acclaimed. Instead, they chose “Mondays in the Sun,” which ended up not getting nominated. The Academy membership sent a subtle message of what a mistake the committee made by nominating Almodovar for Best Director and awarding him Best Original Screenplay. Almost 20 years later, history may be repeating itself.
In a massive shock to all those who cover and track the International Film race, Spain has once again snubbed Almodovar. Just last month, his latest drama, “Parallel Mothers,” opened to acclaim at the 2021 Venice Film Festival and saw its star, Penelope Cruz, take home the festival’s Best Actress trophy. Instead, the nation’s selection committee has picked Fernando León de Aranoa’s comedy “The Good Boss” starring Cruz’s husband, Javier Bardem. That film earned positive although much less enthusiastic reviews following its debut at the 2021 San Sebastian Film Festival.
Oh, and Fernando León de Aranoa? He also directed, yep, you guessed it, “Mondays in the Sun.” To say the Spanish film community cannot avoid melodrama when it comes to selecting its Oscar submissions is something of an understatement. And they have been down this road before passing over other acclaimed Almodovar films for consideration including “Bad Education” and the aforementioned “Volver.”
Complicating matters is the fact Cruz was considered a strong candidate for a Best Actress nomination. She earned her first nomination for Almodovar’s “Volver” in 2007. “Volver” was Spain’s submission that year, but only made the shortlist. Cruz eventually won her first Oscar for “Vicky Christina Barcelona” in 2009.
Just two years ago, Almodovar’s “Pain and Glory” was Spain’s selection and earned an International Film Oscar nomination. It lost out to Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite.” That same year “Glory’s” Antonio Banderas earned a Best Actor nomination for his performance in the film.
When Spain has selected Almodovar films they have not always earned a nomination. In 2017, “Julieta,” which also starred Cruz, didn’t land in the top five nor did “The Flower of My Secret,” in 1996. That being said, he has two nominations and a win in this category. He has also cemented his status as one of the greatest living filmmakers of our time. Why Spain’s committee would go down this path is somewhat shocking considering the reception of both films so far. Especially, as with “Talk to Her,” Almodovar is in the running for Directing and Original Screenplay nominations.
This month may provide more surprises as the deadline for countries to submit their International Oscar candidates is Nov 1.
“Parallel Mothers” closes the 2021 New York Film Festival on Oct. 10. It is currently scheduled to open in limited release on Dec. 24. “The Good Boss” does not have U.S. distribution at this time.