Anora’, a screwball comedy-drama about a sex worker who marries a Russian oligarch’s son, won the biggest prizes of the night: Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Editing and Best Original Screenplay. At age 25, Mikey Madison upset the Best Actress category beating frontrunners Demi Moore and Fernanda Torres with a win for the title character in ‘Anora’, and director Sean Baker won for Best Director.
Palestinian-Israeli documentary ‘No Other Land’ takes Oscar
‘No Other Land’, that won the award for Best Documentary Feature tells the story of a young Palestinian man named Basel Adra, one of the film’s directors, as he documents the destruction of his hometown of Masafer Yatta, in the occupied West Bank, at the hands of Israeli settlers. A documentary made by a collective of Palestinian and Israeli activist filmmakers, won the award for documentary feature. The film is about the systemic demolition of Palestinian homes in the West Bank. “We made this film, Palestinians and Israelis, because together, our voices are stronger,” said the film’s co-director, Yuval Abraham. “
Adrien Brody wins Best Actor in a Leading Role
Twenty-two years ago, Adrien Brody won the Oscar for Best Actor. With his win this Oscars, Brody, 51, remains the record-holder for the youngest actor ever to win the best actor category as he was 29 in 2003. He took home the award for his role in ‘The Brutalist’, a historical drama about an architect who survives the Holocaust, only to face anti-Semitism, drug addiction and violence in the United States. “I’m here once again to represent the lingering traumas and repercussions of war and systematic oppression and of anti-Semitism and racism and othering. And I believe — I pray for a healthier and a happier and a more inclusive world. And I believe, if the past can teach us anything, it’s a reminder to not let hate go unchecked,”
said Adrien.
A star-studded Oscars tribute to James Bond
The James Bond series is considered the longest-running film series in Hollywood history, as the first Bond film premiered 62 years ago in 1962. It got a star-studded send-up at the Oscars. Actress Margaret Qualley danced a tribute to the James Bond series, which was recently sold from the family of Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson to Amazon. Lisa from the K-pop group BlackPink performed the theme song ‘Live and Let Die’, while Doja Cat performed another Bond classic, the song ‘Diamonds Are Forever’. Raye, hit the high notes with the theme song for the 2012 Bond film ‘Skyfall’.
Best Supporting Actress
Zoe Saldana, pays tribute
to immigrants
Zoe Saldanha accepted the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress tearfully as she paid tribute to the ‘quiet heroism’ of her character in ‘Emilia Perez’ and the rest of the cast and crew. She spoke about the role of immigrants in the arts. “My grandmother came to this country in 1961. I am a proud child of immigrant parents with dreams and dignity and hardworking hands, and I am the first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award,” Zoe said.
Zoe had won a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Critics’ Choice Award and a BAFTA for her performance. “I know I will not be the last. I hope the fact that I’m getting an award for a role where I got to sing and speak in Spanish – my grandmother, if she were here, she would be so delighted,” she added in her acceptance speech.