‘As tonight’s ceremony approaches, the foreign-language category remains Oscar’s annual head-scratcher. Ask anyone in the industry about this year’s nominees — which include one critical hit, “The Barbarian Invasions” from Canada, and four films that barely register — and you’ll find varying levels of bafflement. “For the most part, of the films that are selected, I don’t think anyone understands why,” says Ryan Werner, head of distribution at Wellspring, which releases a number of foreign titles each year. Mark Urman, of ThinkFilm, says, “I can’t tell you how many people were shocked by the nominations this year.” Both were hoping their company’s films would be included, but their sentiments are shared by executives and voters alike.’ —New York Times