Spain selects film on story of Columbus in South America to compete for Oscar

Spain selects film on story of Columbus for Oscar

MADRID — Spain has selected “Tambien la Lluvia” (Even the Rain), a film that deals with the story of Christopher Columbus in South America, as its entry to compete for Best Foreign Language Film at next year’s Oscars.

The film, directed by Madrid-born Iciar Bollain, is set in Bolivia and stars Spain’s Luis Tosar and Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal.

The movie shows a director making a movie that depicts Columbus as being chiefly interested in gold and slaves, and not simply discovering new lands.

The decision was announced Tuesday by the Spanish Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences.

The U.S. film academy will select finalists for the honor in January with the Oscars announced a month later.

Spain has won four Oscars for best foreign language film.