We are proud to share that The Danish Oscar Committee has selected WOMAN UNKNOWN by May el-Toukhy as the Danish entry in the Best International Feature Film category for the upcoming 99th Academy Awards®.
The selection of May el-Toukhy’s WOMAN UNKNOWN comes in the wake of the film’s Golden Lion win at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival just weeks ago, where Mathilde Arcel also went home with the Volpi cup for her striking performance as the main character Marie. This marks the 8th time in the festival’s history that a film directed by a woman takes home the main prize.
May el-Toukhy has just returned from Toronto International Film Festival where WOMAN UNKNOWN had its North American premiere and screened as part of the Centrepiece section. During October the film will also travel to BFI London Film Festival, Busan International Film Festival and Riga International Film Festival.
Synopsis:
WOMAN UNKNOWN follows Marie, a young nanny and housemaid, who is about to marry the wealthy older widower, Christian, for whom she is working. But Marie guards a shameful secret. During World War II, she was in an intimate relationship with a German soldier. Now Marie’s past threatens to catch up with her, and she is forced to do everything in her power to preserve her new status as lady of the house in post-war anarchy.
WOMAN UNKNOWN is directed by May el-Toukhy, written by May el-Toukhy and Maren Louise Käehne and produced by Mikael Rieks (LAND OF MINE; BOUNDLESS; APPLAUSE) for Nordisk Film Production A/S in co-production with Nafta Films, Nordisk Film Production Sweden and Film i Väst with support from The Danish Film Institute, Eurimages - Council of Europe, Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, Riga City Council, Nordisk Film & TV Fund, DR, The Swedish Film Institute, SVT, LIAA, Riga Film Fund, TrustNordisk and Zentropa. Local distribution by Nordisk Film Distribution. TrustNordisk handles international sales.