Golden Globe Musings: Best Foreign Film

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced shortly, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anything important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that, especially this year, it’s hard to know which films and performances will end up being honored.

Last year’s nominees:
The Farewell (USA)
Les Miserables (France)
Pain and Glory (Spain)
Parasite (South Korea)
Portrait of a Lady on Fire (France)

I correctly predicted all five nominees in this category last year, and I would love to repeat that feat this year. There are a staggering 139 films in consideration from 77 countries, which is of course much more than on Oscar’s list. Among the likeliest contenders only eligible here are Minari (USA), The Life Ahead (Italy), I Carry You With Me (Mexico), New Order (Mexico, France), and Cuties (France). It’s hard to know which films will ultimately be ahead from around the world, but it’s fair to say that Another Round (Denmark) is surely at the top of that list. Two of Us (France) feels like a safe choice too. I’ve heard excellent things about This Is Not A Burial, It's A Resurrection (Lesotho, South Africa, Italy) and Quo Vadis, Aida? (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria, Romania, Netherlands, Germany, Poland, France, Norway, Turkey), but I’m not sure either will end up picked here. Other possibilities include Apples (Greece), Charlatan (Czech Republic), Dear Comrades! (Russia), La Llorona (Guatemala, France), My Little Sister (Switzerland), Never Gonna Snow Again (Poland, Germany), Night of the Kings (France, Côte d'Ivoire, Canada, Senegal), A Sun (Taiwan), Sun Children (Iran), True Mothers (Japan), and You Will Die at Twenty (Sudan).

Current predictions:
Another Round (Denmark)
I Carry You With Me (Mexico)
The Life Ahead (Italy)
Minari (USA)
Two of Us (France)