The anti-war drama “Nothing New in the West” has nine nominations for the Oscars. They are already a “huge gift” for the main actor Felix Kammerer.
Final sprint for director Edward Berger and his “Nothing New in the West” team: Oscar candidates, representatives of the film industry and also Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth celebrated at the reception of German Films, the foreign agency for German film, on Friday. With a sensational nine nominations, also in the top category “Best Film”, the anti-war drama based on the novel by Erich Maria Remarque is in the Oscar race.
These many nominations alone are a “giant gift,” said leading actor Felix Kammerer (27), who plays the young German soldier Paul Bäumer in his first feature film role. “If we should really win something, then that’s the icing on the cake,” says the native of Vienna. Director Edward Berger (53) is particularly pleased that a good 40 people from his Hollywood team are there and they are all celebrating together – “no matter what happens, whether we get one, whether we don’t get one, whether we get nine, which doesn’t happen will,” said Berger.
Film composer Volker Bertelmann, also known by his stage name Hauschka, vividly underscored the horror of war. For the second time he is in the Oscar race. In 2017 he was nominated together with his US colleague Dustin O’Halloran for the soundtrack to the film “Lion”, but went away empty-handed at the award ceremony. The great reactions to “Nothing New in the West” in the US and England really touched him, says Bertelmann. “It’s important for German film that such films that are made with complete German craftsmanship have such an impact,” he says, referring to the international recognition.
Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth referred to the special importance of the German film adaptation of the remarque novel. “And now he’s coming back at a time when we’re experiencing an unleashed, unlimited, dirty, terrible war of aggression,” said the Greens politician. Together with the “Nothing new in the west” team, Roth will also be present at the Oscar gala. She was “extremely excited,” said the politician.
Of course he had prepared an acceptance speech, emphasized film producer Malte Grunert. As a producer, he would win the Oscar for Best Picture. He believes that “Everything Everywhere All at Once” will win the top prize – “but we’re not without a chance,” added Grunert. Director Berger still has to work on his speech. He had already written something, but was disappointed by it. “I woke up this morning and thought, that’s crap.” He wants to try again in the next few hours. (dpa)