Austrian ‘Amour’ (Love), a poignant drama about a retired music teacher’s desire to die as she struggles with old age, won the best foreign film trophy at the 85th Academy Awards.
The Michael Haneke directed movie, also nominated for the best picture and director, was a strong favourite to win the foreign film Oscar.
The story revolves around a retired music teacher and her husband of 60 years as they struggle with the debilitating effects of two strokes on both her health and her quality of life.
As Georges cares for the increasingly unhappy Anne, the pair finds the nature of their life together irrevocably changed.
‘Amour’ saw off competition from Norway’s ‘Kon-Tiki’, Chile’s ‘No’, Denmark’s ‘A Royal Affair’ and ‘War Witch’ from Canada.
The film has had an extraordinary run this award season.
It was first screened at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival where it won the Palme d’Or. Emmanuelle Riva, the lead actress of the movie, became the oldest person to win a BAFTA at the age of 85.
The French actress, who is nominated in the best actress category, turned 86 today.