“The Past” crowned best foreign film at National Board of Review awards

TEHRAN,Dec7(MNA) -- Iranian director Asghar Farhadi’s acclaimed movie “The Past” won the National Board of Review (NBR) award for 2013 best foreign film of the year on Wednesday, organizers announced. The National Board of Review awards, which will be presented at a gala in New York on January 7, followed the New York Film Critics Circle prizes on Tuesday, the first film honors leading up to the Oscars. The French-language film “The Past”, which is Farhadi’s first project done outside of his homeland, is about an Iranian man named Ahmad who returns to Paris from Tehran after a four-year separation, upon his French wife Marie’s request, in order to finalize their divorce. The film brought its French star Berenice Bejo the Palme d’Or for best actress at the 66th annual Cannes Film Festival. “Her”, a story about a man who falls in love with a computer operating system, won the National Board of Review award for 2013 best film of the year and best director. Bruce Dern was named best actor for his portrayal of an ornery old man convinced he has won a fortune in Alexander Payne’ “Nebraska”, and Emma Thompson picked up the best actress accolade for her role as author P.L. Travers, the creator of “Mary Poppins” in “Saving Mr. Banks”.