The decision by the Czech Film and Television Academy was announced on Tuesday.
Holland’s biopic about herbalist and faith healer Jan Mikolášek, who lived in uncertain times in 1950s communist Czechoslovakia, tells “the story of Mikolášek’s rise and fall. Of his moral fall and of his constant fight with the darkness inside him”, the director was quoted as saying in an interview for American entertainment news outlet Variety.com.
“It is the story of the mystery of a man, of the mystery of his special gift, of the price he was ready to pay for it; the story of the paradox of strength and weakness, of love and hate,” Holland added in the interview.
Charlatan premiered at this year’s Berlinale Film Festival in February.
Holland’s credits as a film director include Spoor; In Darkness; Europa, Europa; A Secret Garden; and Washington Square. She has also directed episodes of US TV series such as The Wire and House of Cards.
British film news website Screen Daily reported that it is possible but rare practice for a director to represent multiple countries in the American Academy Awards’ international feature submissions.
According to Screen Daily, Holland accomplishes this “impressive feat” with appearing on the list for three different nations – Poland twice with Pokot in 2018 and In Darkness in 2012, as well as for Germany with Angry Harvest in 1986.
The 93rd Academy Awards ceremony is set to take place in April next year.
(jh/pk)
Source: Variety, Screen Daily