The German film “The Teacher’s Room” has successfully overcome another hurdle in the Oscar race. The drama by director Ilker Çatak made it onto the so-called shortlist of a total of 15 candidates, as the Oscar Academy in Beverly Hills, California announced. 88 countries applied for the Oscar in the “International Feature Film” category in 2024.
German director Wim Wenders was also shortlisted with “Perfect Days”. His film, shot in Tokyo, is in the running for the foreign Oscar for Japan.
In addition to Germany and Japan, countries such as Finland (“Falling Leaves”), France (“Beloved Cook”), Italy (“Io capitano”), Great Britain (“The Zone of Interest”), Spain (“The Snow Society”) and Ukraine (“20 Days in Mariupol”).
The German film “The Teacher’s Room” tells of a conflict at a school that gets out of hand. The focus is on a young teacher (Leonie Benesch) who wants to solve a series of thefts at her school.
Wenders: “What an honor”
Wenders (78) was grateful. “What an honor to be able to represent the country of Yasujiro Ozu, Akira Kurosawa, Kenji Mizoguchi and so many more greats,” said the 78-year-old in a statement – with a reference to famous Japanese directors. He also thanked his “wonderful” leading actor Koji Yakusho.
Set in Tokyo, “Perfect Days” tells the story of a man named Hirayama (Koji Yakusho), who works as a toilet cleaner, seems content with his simple life and lives very much in the moment.
Wenders had already been nominated for an Oscar three times: in 2000 with the musician documentary “Buena Vista Social Club”, in 2012 with the 3D dance film “Pina” about Pina Bausch, and in 2015 with the documentary “The Salt of the Earth” about the Brazilian Photographer Sebastião Salgado.
From the shortlist of 15 candidates, five films will be nominated for the final round on January 23rd. The Oscars ceremony is scheduled for March 10, 2024.
