Family drama “Sister” enters Oscars race

Young Simon in the Swiss film "Sister" bonds with a wealthy tourist, played by Gillian Anderson. AFP

Switzerland has submitted a contender for best foreign language film to the American Oscar awards: acclaimed French-Swiss director Ursula Meier’s latest work, “Sister”, is up for the Hollywood honour.

“Sister” tells the story of 12-year-old Simon who lives with his sister in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. The two struggle to make ends meet, and Simon takes to stealing ski equipment from wealthy tourists and re-selling it to teens in the valley to make a meager living.

The drama was recently honored at the Berlin Film Festival with a special runner-up Silver Bear award.

Meier’s first feature film, “Home”, won the Swiss Film Prize for best film in 2009 and a French César nomination for best first film. “Home” was also entered but not nominated as an Oscar contender for best foreign language Film in 2010.

“Sister” is up against a slew of strong contenders from neighbouring countries for the Oscar, including France’s “Intouchables,” Germany’s “Barbara” and Austria’s “Amour”.

The final list of best foreign language film Oscar nominees will be announced January 15, 2013 by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and the Academy Awards (Oscars) will be held February 24 of next year.

Meier, a native of Besançon, France, was born in 1971 to a Swiss father and a French mother. She studied in Belgium at the Institute of Media Arts and now reportedly divides her time between Brussels, Paris and Geneva.