2023 Oscars Challenge: [Short Film #5] “Le Pupille” (One Nomination)

SHORT #5

OF 15

95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE
“Le Pupille”
FEBRUARY 18, 2023
LAEMMLE NOHO 7

DAY 26

OF 48

Best Live Action Short Film
Alice Rohrwacher and Alfonso Cuarón

“Le Pupille” (or “The Pupils”) is a fun little Italian film about a Catholic orphanage filled with girls and run by nuns. Inspired by a letter written during Christmas, the film depicts a troubled wealthy woman offering an enormous cake in exchange for the children’s prayers—her wish for the man that stepped out on her for someone else to return.

The sweetest and most innocent orphan, Serafina (Melissa Falasconi), is subject to the harshest criticism. When the girls stumble upon a radio station playing music, they all dance, all except Serafina. When they’re caught and have their mouths washed out with soap, she’s the one that the head nun, Fioralba (Alba Rohrwacher), targets as the worst culprit. Rohrwacher and Falasconi are the highlights of this adorable film, filled with lighthearted situations of kids being brighter than grown-ups.

PREVIOUS NOMINATIONS

A story about pure and selfish desires, freedom and devotion, and the anarchy that is capable of flowering in the minds of girls within the confines of a strict religious boarding school at Christmas.

Directed by Alice Rohrwacher
Disney+
May 27, 2022
37 minutes

ACCOLADES

Philadelphia Film Festival — Best Short Film (Nominee)

EXPERT PREDICTIONS

1. “Le Pupille”
2. “An Irish Goodbye”
3. “The Red Suitcase”
4. “Night Ride”
5. “Ivalu”

PERSONAL PREDICTIONS

1. “Ivalu”
2. “The Red Suitcase”
3. “Le Pupille”
4. “An Irish Goodbye”
5. “Night Ride”