The five nominated short films – live action – nominated for an Academy Award all come from Europe. All are interesting, but the best one is “Tonto Woman,” a western from the United Kingdom starring Francesco Quinn, Anthony Quinn’s son. Quinn plays a cattle rustler who meets a woman living in isolation after being held prisoner for 11 years by the Mojave Indians. Based on an Elmore Leonard short story, this is a surprisingly tender tale with just a hint of danger hovering in the background. (36 minutes)
“Tanghi Argentini,” a twist on the predictable internet dating story, comes from Belgium. A man, who has met the woman of his dreams on-line, must learn how to dance the tango in just two weeks. Desperate, he enlists the aid of an office colleague to help him. This was the most enjoyable of the comedies because the end is so unexpected. (13 minutes)
“Le Mozart des Pickpockets,” the French entry, is about two hapless thieves who discover that their luck changes when they undertake the care of a deaf homeless boy. This story also has an unanticipated twist, but it seems long. (31 minutes)
“At Night,” from Denmark, is an overly melodramatic story of three women spending the holidays in a cancer ward. It is well acted, but because the subject matter is so depressing, at 40 minutes, it’s too long.
The most irritating is Italy’s “Il Supplente” (The Substitute). An unruly classroom is brought to order by an unorthodox substitute teacher, who is, himself, just as unruly and obnoxious as his students. (17 minutes)
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