<\/p>\n
Norway\u2019s \u201cSentimental Value\u201d<\/a> looks poised to be this year\u2019s international feature that breaks through across multiple categories (think \u201cAll Quiet on the Western Front,\u201d<\/a> \u201cAnatomy of a Fall,\u201d<\/a> \u201cEmilia P\u00e9rez\u201d<\/a> and others): the non-English language movie that earns academy recognition for its acting, script and direction.<\/p>\n Anne Thompson handicaps the race so far thus: Noting that several countries still haven\u2019t chosen their submissions, \u201cCannes prizewinners have an increased profile with the international committee, including Norway\u2019s \u2018Sentimental Value\u2019 and Brazil\u2019s \u2018Secret Agent.\u2019<\/i> \u201d<\/p>\n But several other official submissions have our panel over the moon.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll call it right now,\u201d declares Glenn Whipp: \u201cThe thrilling \u2018Sir\u00e2t,\u2019 from Spanish filmmaker Oliver Laxe<\/a>, is going to be named best picture by either the Los Angeles or New York film critics \u2026 then it\u2019ll be off to the races for this film, a \u2018Sorcerer\u2019 for the 21st century.\u201d<\/p>\n Robert Daniels\u2019 description of \u201cThe Voice of Hind Rajab\u201d is harrowing: \u201cThe real-life story of a 6-year-old Palestinian girl whose final hours trapped in a car under intense fire from an IDF tank were spent pleading to be saved \u2026 a candid dramatization of her emergency phone calls.\u201d<\/p>\n 1. \u201cSentimental Value\u201d (Norway)<\/b>
2. \u201cIt Was Just an Accident\u201d (France)<\/b>
3. \u201cThe Secret Agent\u201d (Brazil)<\/b>
4. \u201cNo Other Choice\u201d (South Korea)<\/b>
5. \u201cSir\u00e2t\u201d (Spain)<\/b>
6. \u201cThe Voice of Hind Rajab\u201d (Tunisia)
T7. \u201cCalle M\u00e1laga\u201d (Morocco)
T7. \u201cThe President’s Cake\u201d (Iraq)
T7. \u201cA Useful Ghost\u201d (Thailand)<\/p>\n