Lebanese Ministry of Information
Lebanese filmmaker Nadine Labaki has fallen short of becoming the first Arab woman to win an Oscar for her film “Capernaum,” which was nominated for Best Foreign Film at the Academy Awards Sunday in Los Angeles.
The film “Roma,” from Mexico, won the Oscar in the Foreign Film category.
The nomination was still a proud moment for Labaki and her cast, which includes a 14-year-old Syrian refugee as its lead actor. It’s also a proud moment for Lebanon, as the tiny Mediterranean nation had an opportunity to showcase its talent on an international stage.
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Sunday congratulated Labaki and her cast for making it as far as the Oscars.
“I wish all the best for Nadine Labaki and the crew of the film “Capernaum” in her Oscar nomination,” Hariri wrote on Twitter. “Our hearts are with you and all of Lebanon is proud of you, Nadine Labaki.”
The drama “Capernaum” follows the story of a destitute boy who files a lawsuit against his parents for raising him into a life of pain and suffering. The film received international acclaim, and was awarded the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
The other nominees for Best Foreign Film included Poland’s “Cold War,” Germany’s “Never Look Away” and Japan’s “Shoplifters.”
Lebanese Examiner
