* Talancon and Daniel Gimenez Cacho, recreating 1930s Puebla.
The resurgent Mexican film community was gunning for a 2008 foreign-language Oscar nomination for the period drama "Arráncame la Vida," but it was ultimately left out in Thursday's announcement of the nods. Hopes were up because the movie had made been named one of nine finalists during the selection process, the only final contender from Latin America.
"Waltz with Bashir," an Israeli anti-war "animated documentary," is now the leading picture in this category. Austria, Japan, France, and Germany also received nominations. Reacting to the snub in Mexico, the president of the film academy called "Arráncame la Vida" a "dignified representation of Mexican film." Director Roberto Sneider said his movie achieved its goals, and that the U.S. film academy simply 'opted for a different theme' in its choices -- mainly, contemporary issues of war and immigration.
"Arráncame la Vida," the most expensive production in Mexican history and a box office success, really is a fine film. Based on the novel by Angeles Mastretta, it has been hailed for its lush recreation of 1930s, 1940s Mexico and its faithful interpretation of Mastretta's characters. As the beautiful and quick-witted provincial girl turned general's trophy wife, Ana Claudia Talancon gives an outstanding performance. See the trailer here.
* Of course, in Mexico City, you can get a pirated DVD copy of the film on just about any hoody street corner.