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- Oliver Hermanus has received another accolade for his first international film, Living.
- The film has been named in the Top 10 Independent Films of the year by The National Board of Review.
- Earlier this week, Time Out ranked Living in the 9th spot on their top 30 list of films.
Oliver Hermanus has received another accolade for his first international film, Living.
Set in London in 1952, Living follows Mr Williams (Bill Nighy), a civil servant who has become a small cog in the bureaucracy of rebuilding post-WW2 England, as he learns that he has a terminal illness. He goes on a quest to find some meaning to his dull life.
The film – an adaption of the Japanese drama Ikiru by Akira Kurosawa – has been named in the Top 10 Independent Films of the year by The National Board of Review.
"Established in 1909, the NBR recognises excellence in filmmaking," reads a press statement. "This year 269 films were viewed by a select group of film enthusiasts, filmmakers, professionals, academics and students, many of which were followed by in-depth discussions with directors, actors, producers and scriptwriters."
The announced honourees of all categories will be feted at the NBR Awards Gala on Sunday, 8 January, in New York City. Willie Geist will host the event.
Earlier this week, Hermanus rubbed shoulders with Anna Wintour and Hugh Jackman at a special screening of Living, hosted by Vogue magazine.
Before interviewing lead actor Nighy, Jackman called it "one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen," urging people to watch it.
READ MORE | Oliver Hermanus rubs shoulders with Anna Wintour at a special screening of Living
The movie was also named in Time Out's list of the 30 best films of 2022 so far.
"Props, too, to South African director Oliver Hermanus, who has an instinctive grasp of stuffy English internality, and screenwriter Kazuo Ishiguro, who rivals his work on Remains of the Day with a moving, deeply humane script," wrote Time Out reporter Phil de Semlyen.
In a recent interview with News24, Hermanus spoke in more detail about making the film.
"It was quite serious and a very intense and exciting experience. It was incredibly difficult but so rewarding in the end," he said of their challenges while making a film during the pandemic.
READ MORE | Coming in hot! SA director Oliver Hermanus shares all about making it big in Hollywood
A South African release date for the film has not yet been announced.
