It’s not everyday you see a prestigious list of five countries that put Iran and Israel next to one another, asking the representatives from both countries to wear their tuxes or their evening gowns and enjoy an evening of celebration, laughter and happy tears in the United States. What’s more, Turkey was so close to being on the same list.
The list has nothing to do with nuclear arms and the ever-tangled politics of the Middle East. It’s the Oscars, and the list is the nominees for the Best Foreign Language Film. If Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s Grand Prix winner in Cannes, Bir Zamanlar Anadolu’da (Once Upon A Time in Anatolia), a very likely contender until the announcement of the shortlist of nine films, was nominated for the category, it would definitely have marked a moment in history.
If Turkey had been nominated, say, instead of Canada or Poland, the irony would make many smile, with Belgium, the high and mighty center of Europe, being one of the other nominees as well. Turkey, once again, would be stuck between the two global power games, next to the Middle East and the European Union, not too keen to make Turkey one of their own.
Still, Iran and Israel, two countries not exactly fond of each other, will be competing for the Academy Award for Foreign Language Film come the award ceremony Feb. 26. In fact, Joseph Cedar, the director of Footnote, the nominee from Israel, said there was “something poetic” about Israel and Iran both being nominated.
Click here for full article (Hürriyet Daily News)
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