The German film "The White Ribbon," directed by Michael Haneke, won the award for best foreign-language film at the Golden Globes ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday night.

In his acceptance speech, Austrian Haneke paid tribute to the movie's German, French and Austrian producers and especially to the child actors, who he said are "the soul of this film."

The black-and-white film beat out Italy's "Baaria," Spain's "Broken Embraces," "La Nana" from Chile and the French film "Un Prophete." Last year the German film won the Golden Palm award at the Cannes Film Festival and the European Film Prize.

"The White Ribbon" was filmed in eastern and northern Germany and tells the story of guilt, repression and the roots of evil set in Germany just before World War I.

Haneke's subjects are discomfiting: set in a northern village in 1913-14, it explores the roots of terror and violence and shows authoritarian structures in both family life and a small community.

"The White Ribbon" will also be Germany's candidate for Best Foreign Language film at the 2010 Oscars in March.

The Golden Globe Awards are awarded annually by members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

Inglourious Basterds

Austria's Christoph Waltz won the best supporting actor Golden Globe for his role in director Quentin Tarantino's film "Inglourious Basterds."

The 53-year-old, Vienna-born actor had already received lavish praise for his performance as the sadistic Nazi army officer in Tarantino's World War II film about a group of Jewish soldiers who lauch brutal reprisal attacks against the Third Reich.

"A year and a half ago I was exposed to the gravitational forces of Quentin Tarantino," Waltz said. "With his vision he took my modest little world and with the power of his talent and his words, he flung it into his orbit. A dizzying experience."

"Inglourious Basterds" won two other awards: for director Quentin Tarantino's original screenplay and for best ensemble. Along with the all-star musical "Nine," it led the field with 10 nominations.

nrt/dpa/AFP/Reuters

Editor: Kyle James