Ajami producer: We knew Argentine film would win Oscar
No surprise Oscar judges opted for more 'American-oriented' entry, Israeli filmmaker says.
By Haaretz Service Tags: Israel newsThe producer of Israeli Oscar hopeful Ajami on Monday expressed no surprise at being pipped to the 'best foreign film' award by Argentina's The Secret in Their Eyes, saying the judges were bound to favor the more 'American-oriented' entry.
"We mainly just feel relieved," Moshe Danon told Army Radio. "As usual, everyone knew in advance what would happen and we had every expectation the Argentinean film would win."
This was the third consecutive year that an Israeli film was nominated for the award. Last year Waltz with Bashir made the shortlist for the foreign-language Oscar but despite being tipped for success lost to the Japanese movie Departures. The previous year Beaufort was one of the top finalists but also came up short.
The Secret in Their Eyes was a deserving winner, Danon said. But the producer of Ajami, which depicts drugs, violence and poverty in a Jewish-Arab neighborhood in Jaffa, also believes that Oscars judges gravitated towards the Argentinean mystery thriller's more familiar material.
"They call it the 'best foreign film' award ? but in the end the winner was the film with a more American orientation," he said.
Ajami was directed by Scandar Copti, an Israeli Arab, and Yaron Shani, an Israeli Jew.
The movie used mainly nonprofessional actors, some of them residents of the Ajami neighborhood from which the film takes its name, who were taught in special workshops before filming began.
In the run up to Sunday night's award ceremony Copti sparked controversy at home when he proclaimed that he was not representing Israel in the Oscars race.
"I am not Israel's national team and do not represent it," Copti reportedly said. "It is an extremely technical thing and that's how it works at the Oscars - it says 'Israel' because that's where the money comes from."
Among those to condemn the comments was Culture Minister Limor Livnat.
"Without the support of the country, Copti would not be walking on the red carpet tonight," Livnat said. "It is sad that a director who was funded by the country is alienating those who helped him."
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Scandal Copti,does not represent the majority of the Arabs that live in Yaffo,there are problems here,just as there are problems everywhere. Labhras Bous Teezi
Its a stupid statue and a chance for some people in the movie industry to just go pat each other on the back for making a movie and be awarded a little statue for their trouble.
Or that fact has not crossed your minds?
Denying you represent Israel in Hollywood? Maybe their film wouldn't have won anyway -- but that statement was taking out an insurance policy.
but why would a zionist pretending to a Arab be interested in the truth. "If you are a so brave warrier Mr. Alexander the Great, why did you wait till after the Oscar announcement to say these things. Why not before?" So called Israeli Arab.
on American television.
What a scandal?! Fit for child play. Grow up, learn from the experience that Copti present to Israel reality, and, deal accordingly. Art at its best knows no national boundary. There is no room for any creative mind to take refuge in a show of inhumanity. Without human emotion for the creation, the creation is empty of any value (Cezane). Try and use opportunity that destroys the creation calls for the shattering of an uplift.
I'm glad he didn't get the Oscar someone so ungrateful is not going to succeed in anything.He can move to gaza and let's see how far he'll go. Well deserved.
Copti's comments are unfortunate, but Ajami is still one of the best crime films I have seen in years. It is not anti-Israel, as some who have not seen the film claim. One of the more sympathetic characters is an Israeli policeman who loses a brother to terrorism. I haven't seen the Argentinian film, and I do not know if it will be playing locally. I did see The White Ribbon, which is also very good. The Prophet will open here soon, but with my being away over Pasach I may miss it.
Copti, why did you beg for money from a country you accepted first to represent ? Or, you just wanted to deceive your sponsors. A mentalitly of deceivers, that we know well.
Saw it @ the 2009 jerusalem film-festival, where it DESERVEDLY won 1st place. Saw it again in the Tel-Aviv Cinemateque. It`s a great film! It`s hard to believe that it`s not a documentary. The acting is SUPERB & very realistic. It`s very much like the Italian film "Gamorra" about the Naples mafia. There I couldn`t believe it wasn`y a documentary. Whether it deserved to win the "Oscar", I can`t comment on that. Anyway Ajami "boys & girls" - Well done!!
Spiting into the well where you drink from.
I am very happy Ajami didn't win.
Ehh sorry to disappoint you. But last time I checked the Oscar is for America and America oriented content. Don't like it? Go to Tehran, Cannes, Ankara or any other Palistinian oriented film festival city.
The decision had nothing to do with politics, but with quality. The Argentinean film was simply better. "Ajami" was impressive but not as good as the winner. Good luck next time!
If the film does not represent Israel the producers should give back the money they took from the Israeli taxpayer.
just because it involves Jews and Arabs and is or is not Israeli does not mean it is worthy. Actually , it was a nice try, but not the best out there.
Wow! did Copti made a gaint mistake this time around which will probably cost him any future funding in Israel. He has bitten the hand that fed his professional career in Israel.
The judges believed that him. Neither he or the film represent Israel. He had his 15-minutes of fame...and now he goes home the loser he is. Next time let the PA or Hamas finance his projects. He'll have a better chance of winning for a government that "represents him".
Shame on Copti to be so ungrateful to his country that gave him his (rare)opportunity in his life. If you are a so brave warrier Mr. Alexander the Great, why did you wait till after the Oscar announcement to say these things. Why not before? Also, they say you are developing some business in the Arab world, so maybe if not Oscar then at least promote that business of yours? SHAME - you certainly so not represent me as an Jaffa Arab.
The winner of the foreign film category, year after year, has never been judged on the basis od how true it is to American themes. In fact, and, if anything, the theme of Ajami(poverty, drugs and thugs in an ethnically mixed neighborhood) is singularly American. It is likely one of two things happened: A)The more likely is that the Academy liked the Argentine film more or B) After hearing how the Arab israeli half of the director team bad-mouthed the country that provided the money and the story, they decided not to risk another wasted, stupid, politically motivated "acceptance" speech. Best advice: Make better movies and expect them to be judged solely on artistic merit.
all of their bad mouthing of Israel to show hollywood what good little suck ups they were didn't work. hollywood hates israel and votes left everytime. these jerks thought they would suck up to voters by distancing themselves from israel, now they go home without a prize and with every Israeli knowing what they tried to do ,,,, hahahahah LOSER Boys move to syria
Scandar Copti is an ungrateful idiot,and I'm glad that his movie did not win. In the future Israel should be more careful as to who it gives money to make films. I resent my taxes going to the likes of this scandar copti.
The Ajami team are just as pugnacious as any right-wingers.