Spain selects post-Pinochet film ‘El Baile de la Victoria’ to compete for Oscar

Spain selects post-Pinochet film for Oscars

MADRID — The Spanish Cinema Academy on Tuesday selected a film set in Chile after the Pinochet dictatorship as the country’s nomination to compete for the Oscar for best foreign language film.

“El Baile de la Victoria” (Dance of Victory) was directed by Fernando Trueba, who won the Oscar for best foreign language film with “Belle Epoque” in 1993.

The movie, based on a novel by Chilean writer Antonio Skarmeta, deals with a young man seeking revenge after serving time in jail during the dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet. It stars Argentine actor Ricardo Darin and Spanish actress Ariadna Gil.

The U.S. film academy will select the five finalists for best foreign language film in February, with the Oscar winners to be announced March 7. Spain has won four Oscars for best foreign film.