After a series of successes in the global arena, 'Jalaler Golpo' has now been selected for the 88th Academy Awards. The movie will compete in the foreign language movie category at Oscars. The movie was produced under the banner of Impress Telefilm. Ever since its release on September 4 in the domestic market it has amassed huge public support and rave ratings from critics.
Jalaler Golpo is the directorial debut for Abu Shahed Emon, a master screenwriter who completed the movie amidst a number of adversaries. Financial crisis forced Emon to take the movie to contend for the 'Asian Film Fund' in the 'New Currents Programme' category in the Busan Film Festival, South Korea. As one of it first hauls Emon's movie won the funding award while competing against staunch rivals from China, South Korea, Japan, Iran and India. Five more countries took part in the final selection round to win the award intended for first time directors. Afterwards Jalaler Golpo took part in a series of international film festivals before premiering at its home. In Jaipur Film Festival Jalaler Golpo won the best debut director's award. In Avanca Film Festival the movie received the best film award. The movie's negative cast member Mosharrof Karim won the best actor award in this festival.
Jalaler Golpo is believed by many to reflect the story of Moses as the movie starts with a child floating in the river. The child Jalal goes through three major turns in his life before his death. Each time he is taken in from rivers by covetous yet peculiarly considerate men and being finally set adrift in the face of totalitarian stigmas. In the final phase however Jalal's benefactor Shojib the most sinister of his foster fathers chooses not to abandon him even after losing all hopes for him. Thus it is Jalal who himself is forced to choose his old home the river for asylum.
In its review the Hollywood Reporter though declared the movie to have 'Ceaseless downbeats' for its seemingly deliberate treatment of plot in a disinterested way termed it 'intermittently affecting.'
In the International Movie Database (IMDB) Jalaler Golpo has been rated 8.5 in a scale of 10. The movie has become the only movie after renowned helmer Tareque Masud's 'Matir Moina' to be shortlisted by Oscars.
Emon is already finding it hard to catch his breath after witnessing tremendous support shown by viewers at home. In response to this latest news from Oscars he feels elated at the fact that a story reflecting the life and philosophy of Bangladeshis is particular has been selected by the jury board. He is optimistic that a director from Bangladesh will snatch an Oscar if the trend of portraying Bangladeshi life and socio-political scenario is continued.