Oscar gold again eludes Israel’s grasp

A brief groan of disappointment swept through the crowd of some 200 Israelis gathered at a Westside hotel with the announcement that the Iranian entry, “A Separation,” had beaten out four other finalists to win the Oscar for best foreign-language film.

Among the runner-ups was Israel’s contender, “” target=”_blank” title=”JewsandOscars.com”>JewsandOscars.com]

This year’s outcome was a repeat for Joseph Cedar, director-writer of “Footnote,” whose war film “Beaufort” suffered the same fate in 2007.

However, tribal pride was somewhat salvaged by the impressive triumph of “” target=”_blank” title=”told The Journals Danielle Berrin”>told The Journal’s Danielle Berrin that his parents and grandparents survived the Nazi occupation by hiding in the French countryside.

Producer Thomas Langmann is the son of famed French director Claude Berri, whose parents were Eastern European Jews and whose first film, “The Two of Us,” dealt with a French Jewish boy hiding from the Nazis.

In addition, the veteran