13/01/2014 - Paolo Sorrentino’s film triumphs in Hollywood, beating favourite Trionfo a Hollywood per il film di Paolo Sorrentino, che ha battuto il favorito Adele: Chapters 1 & 2

Paolo Sorrentino won the Golden Globe for best foreign film last night in Los Angeles with The Great Beauty [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Paolo Sorrentino
film profile], beating other contenders: Adele: Chapters 1 & 2 [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Abdellatif Kechiche
film profile] by French Abdellatif Kechiche, which won the Palme d’Or in Cannes, Japanese maestro Miyazaki’s film The Wind Rises, Iranian The Past and Danish The Hunt [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Thomas Vinterberg
interview: Thomas Vinterberg
film profile].

Italy has not been recognised by Hollywood’s foreign press since 1989 when it won with Nuovo cinema paradiso by Giuseppe Tornatore. The director let his enthusiasm be seen when he accepted his prize, telling the audience: “Italy is a crazy country, but it is beautiful.” Later, while speaking on the phone to Italian newspapers, he confessed: “I was convinced the prize would go to someone else so I was even happier. I was sitting next to Bono who was really happy that our film won.” Congratulations also came from Martin Scorsese, who loved the film starring Toni Servillo.

Producer Peter Becker was also happy. The man behind film companies Janus Film and Criterion, who is distributing the film in the US said “when I saw the film in Cannes, I instantly knew it had potential for our market.”

The Golden Globes are considered an important indicator for the Oscars, meaning Sorrentino’s film should be in the running. The five films competing for best foreign film will be announced on January 16. The award ceremony will take place on March 2. 

(Translated from Italian)