In 1981, the winner of the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar was Spanish, To Begin Again.
The five nominees were:
To Begin Again, Spain (winner)
Alsinor and the Condor
Coup de Torchon (Clean Slate), France
Private Life
The Life of the Eagle
Time Stands Still from Hungary won the best foreign language film from the N.Y. Film Critics Circle.
Two artistic highlights were disregarded by the Academy voters:
Fitzgeraldo, by Herzog, from the Federal Democracy of Germany
The Night of the Shooting Stars, by the Taviani brothers, from Italy
