Argentina's film "The Distinguished Citizen" to vie for Oscar

Argentina has chosen "The Distinguished Citizen" to compete for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 2017 U.S. Academy Awards (Oscars).

The film, a dramatic comedy about an award-winning writer who is first revered and then reviled by his hometown, was co-directed by Gaston Duprat and Mariano Cohn.

Argentina's Academy of Cinematography Arts and Sciences said the film was chosen from 100 movies that debuted in the South American country between Oct. 1, 2015 and Sept. 30, 2016.

The film tells the story of Daniel Mantovani, a Nobel laureate in literature, who returns to the small town where he was born after an absence of 40 years to be honored as a local "distinguished citizen."

The celebration turns sour after locals realize Mantovani made a career out of criticizing their small-town ways.

Leading actor Oscar Martinez won the best actor award at the 73rd Venice Film Festival in September for his portrayal.

Martinez told Argentine radio station Mitre he was happy about the film being selected to compete for an Oscar, but said the U.S. Academy Awards had become overblown.

"They have succeeded in universalizing the celebration of their industry, and they make it an event of global importance, but for me the Cannes of Venice (film) festivals are more important," said Martinez.

The Oscars are to be presented on Feb. 26 in Los Angeles, California.

Argentina has won two Best Foreign Language Awards with "The Secret in Their Eyes" in 2009 and "The Official Story" in 1985. Endi