Back to Life / Vuelve a la vida by Luis Carlos and Alfredo Hueck has been announced as Venezuela's new submission for the Best International Feature category at the 97th Academy Awards, replacing the documentary Children of Las Brisas /Niños de Las Brisas by Marianela Maldonado. The latter was deemed ineligible under the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ rules due to having had a broadcast premiere before its theatrical release.
The Hueck siblings, Luis Carlos and Alfredo, are the filmmakers behind Papita, Maní, Tostón, the highest-grossing film in Venezuelan cinema history. Their latest production, Back to Life, is based on a true story and follows the life-affirming journey of a teenager and his family after he is diagnosed with cancer.
Set in 1996, the film tells the story of Ricardo, who returns to his home in Caracas after a year abroad in New York. His parents welcome him with a big party and plans for a family vacation, but Ricardo chooses to celebrate by traveling with his best friends along the beautiful Venezuelan coast. During the trip, Ricardo experiences a sudden, severe pain that changes his life and that of his family forever.
Venezuela has yet to receive an Oscar nomination. The country came closest in 2014 when Alberto Arvelo’s epic The Liberator (Libertador) made the shortlist for Best International Feature.
