Oscars 2017: Predicting The Winners
13. Best Foreign Language Film
Will Win: Toni Erdmann Should Win: Toni Erdmann Surprise Win: Tanna
It is hard to imagine any other film but Toni Erdmann winning this category. The amount of buzz this epic German comedy has managed to pick up is similar to that of other foreign-language films that have won in the past like Son of Saul and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
The film is a heartfelt story of a father trying to reconnect with his daughter, so despite its crude humour and long running time, it is the kind of film the voting body loves. There is little chance any other nominee but Toni Erdmann will win because of its subject matter and critical reception. Germany has never submitted fare like this before, and such a unique comedy will be rewarded.
However, Tanna is unlike any of the other nominees, and its nomination came as a surprise. Australia's entry - depicting the struggles of a small island community when an arranged marriage is challenged by the assumed bride - could be the underdog that overturns everyone's expectations in the same way that Colombia's 2016 nominee Embrace of the Serpent came out of nowhere.