The tuxedo -- designed by Alber Elbaz, the Israeli darling of fashion house Lanvin -- is ready, the speech written and the red carpet already flung out. The Israeli delegation to the 2012 Oscar celebration, which includes director Joseph Cedar and the actors from his nominated film, Footnote, Shlomo Bar-Aba and Lior Ashkenazi, is set to attend Sunday evenings Oscar ceremony at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood. Will it be a night for the history books with Israel finally taking home a statue after 10 nominations- According to what I feel and see, we will be surprised if we win, Ashkenazi told Israel Hayom just after landing in Los Angeles. Two hours after landing, Ashkenazi found himself at a cocktail party in honor of the five Best Foreign Film nominees. During the party, clips from the movies were shown and the directors gave speeches of gratitude. The groups also mingled with Hollywood royalty. The star of the cocktail party was world-renowned actress Meryl Streep. I started talking to her, Ashkenazi said. But then the old neighborhood [self-consciousness over being from a poor neighborhood] came out of me and I ran away in fear. Bar-Aba was also cautious about his films chances of winning. Following a few inquiries, I think that we need to be cautious [with our enthusiasm]. I understand that there are very strong contenders in this category, he said. One day earlier in Los Angeles, Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, whose divorce drama A Separation is an Oscar nominee, missed an award-related event saying he was ill, prompting reports in the Israeli media that he might be avoiding them and the director of Footnote. I thought that it would all be fine, Cedar told Channel 2 News. But apparently I am naive. Something is happening here, and in my opinion, its not right. For Saturdays Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences event, Farhadi did not pose for news photographers outside - although his actors did - and during the symposium, he and Footnote maker Joseph Cedar sat at opposite ends of the panel. The Iranian director did not comment directly on the subject of the claims, however he said that, A film cannot solve the worlds problems. A film solves small problems but it leaves the big problems to reality. Afterward, he was whisked away before reporters could talk to him and taken to another event, the Independent Spirit Awards, where A Separation won best international movie. But Farhadi only appeared on stage and not in a backstage press room. The Iranian director and actors did come to the evening cocktail party, but entered through the back door in an effort to avoid encounters with the media. We talked with two of the Iranian actors and it was just delightful, said Ashkenazi. In the end, we all speak the same language: the language of film. All the rest is uninteresting. Later, upon leaving the Symposium, Israel Hayom attempted to speak with the two Iranian actresses. When they understood that this reporter was from Israel, they responded, We are sorry, but we cannot answer you. The Iranian government has treated some of its countrys filmmakers such as Jafar Panahi harshly in recent years. Farhadi has said in past interviews he was not censored in making his movie, and it is impossible to know whether he feels government pressure now. But his fellow filmmakers said they understood his dilemma in meeting with the western media. If he (Farhadi) doesnt want to talk to the press, I can appreciate that, Canadian director Philippe Falardeau, whose Monsieur Lazhar also is nominated, told Reuters. I can say a lot of stupid things to the press and I wont get in trouble for that back home. Thats not his case. Cedar declined comment when approached by Reuters to ask whether he and Farhadi had a chance to meet and talk about their respective Oscar-nominated movies. Speaking at the weekly cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lauded the Israeli entry, saying I dont go to the cinema much. The last film I saw was this one, Footnote. I very much enjoyed it.
I am certain that that I speak for all Israelis: We wish Footnote great success at the Oscars this evening," the prime minister added.
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שיתוף כתבה
Global politics at play as Cedar and Farhadi arrive in Hollywood
Israeli delegation for Oscar-nominated film Footnote is in Los Angeles ahead of Sunday nights Oscar ceremony • Actors cautious about their hopes of winning • Iranian actors speak with Israeli actors, but refuse to speak with Israeli media.