"The Peasants" was nominated for an Oscar. Tomasz Raczek: It's not a great movie

On Tuesday, January 23, 2024, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the Academy Award nominations. Films and creators have a chance to win statuettes in 24 categories. The film “Chłopi” representing Poland, although presented in as many as five categories, was included in the so-called shortlist only in the category “Best Animated Film”. However, he did not receive a nomination. The following films have a chance to receive a statuette: “The Boy and the Heron,” “The Elements Among Us,” “Nimona,” “The Dog and the Robot,” and “Spider-Man: Through the Multiverse.”

Let us remember that “Peasants” producer Sean Bobbitt revealed last December that the filmmakers had submitted the film to five Oscar categories. The animation also competed for, among others, a nomination for Best Original Score by Łukasz Rostkowski (LUC), but was not shortlisted.

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Thomas Raczek criticizes the “peasants”

A film critic harshly criticized the production in September. He now stands firm in his opinion and confirmed in an interview with Beljada that, in his opinion, the film does not deserve an Oscar.

– It's far. “Chłopi” is not a great movie. It was successful in Poland, but its reception outside Poland was rather great. Critics in Poland were very lenient towards the “peasants”. I was not lenient and got hit over the head by the producer, who couldn't come to terms with the fact that various things bothered me in this film. However, when I read reviews published abroad – in Ireland and Great Britain – they were often very critical.

In fact, there were at least two films this year that could have represented Poland more successfully in contention for the Academy Award for Best International Feature. I mean “Green Borders” by Agnieszka Holland and “Kos” by Paul Maloney. Both films were more interesting than “Chłopi”. “Chłopi” was the third title, next in line to receive this award. So it's not a surprise to me and I don't think the academy has done anything wrong,” he stressed.

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Kamila Ordowska in the movie “Chłopi”

Tomasz Raczek also pointed out his favorite films in the Best International Film category.

– I would really like it to be a film directed by Jonathan Glazer, i.e. “Strefa biznes”, produced by Ewa Buczynsla. Especially since the film itself is also nominated for this year's Academy Award for Best Picture.

It's a really great honor to be nominated, and I hope I get nominated for this film, which pretty much sums it up.