As a group, last spring’s nominations for Best International Film were much better than those in the Best Film category. That is somewhat unusual, as the Best Film category should be the best films overall. In any event, the 2025 Academy Awards Best International Film nominees highlighted incredible storytelling, artistry, and cultural commentary. Focusing on the five nominees — Flow, I’m Still Here, The Girl With the Needle, Emilia Pérez, and The Seed of the Sacred Fig — each offers a unique perspective and emotional resonance that engages viewers. Upon reflection, Flow was the most intriguing submission, with I’m Still Here coming in a close second, while Emilia Pérez stumbled.
1. Flow (Latvia)
Even if international films do not interest you, do not miss Flow! With this film, there is no need to read subtitles or laugh at the dubbing when the movement of the lips and the words do not match up. This is the case because Flow has no dialogue. In this animated odyssey of visionary Latvian director Gints Zilbalodis, the cool cat struggles for survival in a post-apocalyptic animal kingdom. As the animals journey through the wasteland, battling dangerous enemies and unexpected alliances, the film delves into themes of survival, brotherhood, and perseverance.
With gorgeous animation and a poignant score, Flow pulls one into an enthralling, emotionally charged narrative that celebrates the indomitable glow of hope in the darkest time. The film solidifying Zilbalodis’s status as a maestro animator and storyteller. One must wonder if the name Flow is the name of the cat, the movement of water during the flood or if it also has a more subtle meaning. In any event, do not miss this cat even if you do not like cats or foreign movies!
It is still in theaters and available on HBO Max, can be rented on Amazon Video, or purchased on Amazon.
2. I’m Still Here (Brazil)
I’m Still Here, the 2024 Brazilian political biopic, is an impassioned story of resilience and hope set against the backdrop of Brazil’s military dictatorship. The film follows the heartrending story of Maria, a devoted mom and activist who attempts to survive her husband’s horrific forced disappearance. This dissident politician fought for democracy. Through her relentless battle for justice and for her family’s survival, the narrative investigates loss, political repression, and the indomitable spirit of those who refuse to be silenced.
With period-perfect cinematography and stellar acting, particularly from our heroine, you sense the desire and determination. I’m Still Here isn’t just a heart-wrenching story of personal loss, but a moving declaration of the necessity to resist tyranny. The movie’s ability to arouse empathy and stimulate reflection makes it a must-watch for anyone interested in the intersection of the personal and the historical.
The film won the Academy Award in the Best International Film category and was also nominated for Best Picture. The actress, Fernanda Torres, who played the central character and was excellent, earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. Despite its gripping subject, its tone is understated, and unfortunately, I find that having to read the subtitles caused the movie to lose some of its power. Nevertheless, it is certainly worth one’s time to watch.
It is available to rent on Amazon Video and Apple TV, and can be purchased on Amazon.
3. The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany)
Seed of the Sacred Fig is a poignant political thriller that skillfully weaves together resistance and human rights in contemporary Iran. Directed by the renowned Mohammad Rasoulof, the award-winning filmmaker known for his bold narratives, the movie explores the complex intersection of individual sacrifice and institutional tyranny through its mesmerizing protagonists. With breathtaking cinematography and an atmospheric soundtrack, it explores the moral ambiguity of its heroes — each confronted with ethical quandaries in a repressive world dominated by despotism.
Rasoulof’s incendiary storytelling provokes us to consider the price of liberty and human resistance, rendering The Seed of the Sacred Fig not just a cinematic tour de force but a much-needed meditation on the fight for justice in our own moment. Ultimately, however, it’s a bold and visually stunning movie with enduring lessons about hope, bravery, and the pursuit of truth.
It can be streamed on Hulu and rented on Amazon and Apple. It can also be purchased on Amazon.
4. The Girl With the Needle (Denmark)
Magnus von Horn’s The Girl with the Needle is a chilling Danish Gothic historical psychological horror film set in post-World War I Copenhagen. It recounts the bleak horror tale of Karoline (Victoria Carmen Sonne), a down-on-her-luck factory worker who crosses paths with Dagmar (Trine Dyrholm), a magnetic yet mercenary woman operating a black-market adoption service. Karoline, frantic to feed her baby, is pulled into Dagmar’s growing depravity, making it difficult to tell where desperation ends and complicity begins.
Von Horn’s masterful direction drapes each scene in an oppressive fog of both penury and iniquity, and the movie holds nothing back in portraying the era’s cruelties. Unsettling and disturbing as it is, The Girl with the Needle is also a searing meditation on the themes of desperation, motherhood, and the lengths people will go to in order to survive in a society afflicted by hardship.
As with most horror films, it is not a pleasant movie to watch. Nonetheless, it raises important questions about the time of the film and, probably, in more ways than we would like to admit, for our times. It is well acted, and the cinematography is excellent. All of this makes it worth your time to watch.
It is still in theaters, and you can watch it on Apple TV+. It can also be rented on Amazon Video and Apple TV.
5. Emilia Pérez (France)
This movie garnered numerous accolades, including a leading 13 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actress. The film won two awards: Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Song. However, to say I dislike this movie would be an understatement. It is a French film in Spanish that’s a musical where thugs suddenly burst into song. What could go wrong? It tried to combine the zeal of a musical with the edginess of a Russian crime drama. That was essentially an impossible task.
It is the story of the Mexican drug cartel leader who disappears in order to transition to a woman. She later attempts to return to her family without revealing her true identity to them. Without revealing her previous identity, she also takes some steps to rectify some of the societal harm that she had caused. All of that is good, and I wish this had been a good vehicle to tell a sympathetic transgender story. But it was not.
Although the movie is filled with some incredible acting and colorful imagery, it ultimately buckles amidst its complex story-line and inconsistent tempo. The story is somewhat choppy at times, and you’re left struggling to connect with the characters’ motivations and the larger plot. The musical interludes tend to break up rather than build momentum, making it less a roller-coaster ride than a pinball machine. All in all, Emilia Pérez falls flat, offering an exasperating and underwhelming exploration of its plentiful, tantalizing themes.
Emilia Pérez is still in theaters and can be streamed on Netflix. It is also available for purchase on Amazon.
Conclusion
This year’s Best International Film nominees represent an incredible spectrum of narrative, craftsmanship, and catharsis. Even if you have little interest in international films, Flow is not to be missed as head and shoulders above the rest, delivering a visually arresting and profoundly moving story. I’m Still Here follows, offering profound insights into identity and perseverance. And while movies like The Girl With the Needle and The Seed of the Sacred Fig are deserving efforts and worth your time, Emilia Pérez, well, it just doesn’t cut it.
Four out of the five nominated movies are worth your time, even if international films do take a bit more effort to watch.