Norway wins its first Oscar for Best International Film, France loses again

Sentimental Value, directed by Joachim Trier, beat Un Simple Accident but also L’Agent Secret (Brazil).

It’s party time in Oslo!

For the first time in its history, Norway wins the Oscar for Best International Film thanks to Sentimental valuedirected by Joachim Trier.

The Scandinavian director’s sixth feature film, it was presented at Cannes last year, and Sentimental value had won the Grand Prix.

“This is a historic moment for Norwegian cinema”said Kjersti Mo, director of the Norwegian Film Institute, present at the ceremony at the Dolby Theater alongside the Norwegian Minister of Culture and Equality, Lubna Jaffery, and the entire film team. “First of all, I would like to congratulate the directors, producers, actors and everyone who contributed to this film. It’s a huge recognition of the artistic work and exceptional collaboration behind this project.” According to Kjersti Mo, the success of Sentimental value demonstrates “that a small cinematic nation like Norway can shine internationally when directors are given time, trust and artistic freedom.”

This victory also underlines “the importance of Nordic and European cooperation for Norwegian cinemaand reminds “the importance of combining cultural policy and artistic freedom”.

Before Sentimental valueNorway had been nominated six times but had never won the statuette. Joachim Trier was already in the running in 2022 with Julie (in 12 Chapters) beaten by the Japanese film Drive My Car by Ryūsuke Hamaguchi. There was also Elling (2001), a dramatic comedy by Petter Næss or Kon-Tiki (2012) by Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg or even at The Ferryman (Veiviseren) by Nils Gaup in 1987.

And on the French side, of course, if Sentimental value won, that means A simple accident failed. The Iranian film by Jafar Panahi, representing France this year – due to its predominantly French production – thus joins the long list of “tricolor losers” of the international Oscars, alongside Emilia Pérez by Jacques Audiard last year or Les Miserables by Ladj Ly in 2020.

The last French triumph in this category dates back to Indochina by Régis Wargnier, crowned in 1993.