19/09/2007

Yesterday, the Danish Oscar committee, including representatives from the Danish film industry and the Danish Film Institute, selected Peter Schønau Fog’s feature debut The Art of Crying [+see also:
trailer
film profile] as Denmark’s candidate for the 2008 Oscar shortlist in the Best Foreign Language film category.

Based on a novel by Erling Jespen and adapted for the screen by Bo hr. Hansen, The Art of Crying is set in South Jutland in the early 1970s. The film deals with the serious subject of child abuse as seen through the eyes of an 11 year-old boy.

“I felt that this was a one off chance to address the serious subject matter of child abuse in a way that people could not turn away from, by telling the story in the tone and viewpoint of a young boy”, explained the director. “This subject matter is far too important not to address. Not addressing it when you can is the same as turning your back on children suffering. And hopefully, with this film, I will be able to create awareness about a huge problem within families, which can only be solved if someone dares to take on the responsibility to rise up, interact and say it out loud”.

Since its successful launch at Toronto last year, the film, produced by Thomas Stenderup for Final Cut Productions, has won 13 international prizes (including Best Film - Youth Jury at San Sebastian 2006 and the Audience Award at Mannheim-Heidelberg 2006). The Art of Crying is also short-listed for the European Film Awards nominations 2007 and for the Nordic Council Film Prize 2007 (see news).

Domestically, the film has become a sleeper, taking third place at the local box office with over 228,000 admissions. AB Svensk Filmindustri is handling world sales.

The final five Oscar contenders for Best Foreign Language Film will be announced on January 22, 2008, and the official Oscars ceremony in Hollywood will take place on February 24.