“It was a crazy once-in-a-lifetime trip,” said Zhao of the film. She dedicated her Oscar to “anyone who continues to discover the goodness in themselves and each other, no matter how difficult.”
The success of the Sino-British Zhao is seen as problematic by the Beijing regime, after critical statements from her about her native China had surfaced. The Oscar ceremony and references to Nomadland were therefore taboo in the country in recent weeks.
Corona
The filmmakers themselves were silent about this controversy at the award ceremony. Winner McDormand merely begged viewers to return to the cinema shoulder to shoulder as soon as possible as public life in the US is slowly resuming.
The producers of the Oscar show also had to take the pandemic into account this year. This time the show was not held in the large Dolby Theater, but in a cozier room of Union Station. Face masks were not necessary for the stars, because agreements had been made in advance about quarantine and careful testing and retesting. Camera crews were deployed worldwide for nominees who could not travel, from Paris and Sweden to Seoul and Sydney.
Although many films were nominated this time on major political themes such as racism, gun violence and economic inequality, except for a few words of thanks were not politically charged. Best Supporting Actor winner Daniël Kaluuya did recall the race problems from his film Judas and the Black Messiah still require attention.
“There’s still work to do for everyone. And that’s what I’m going to do,” he emphasized, adding: “On Tuesday, because we’re going to be out tonight.”
Emotional acceptance speech
The 73-year-old Korean actress Youn Yuh-jung gazed above all at the splendor of the ceremony, which she had only seen on TV until now. “Mr. Brad Pitt, finally,” she beamed at the actor who introduced her. “I can’t believe I’m here now.”
Youn went on to forgive anyone who had ever confused her last name with her first name. Her winnings for the family drama Threatening meant Hollywood veteran Glenn Close failed to cash in on her nomination for the eighth time.
The most emotional acceptance speech came from Danish director Thomas Vinterberg, who won for Pressure, a film about four men who investigate whether their lives get better when they are constantly drunk. He had started that project with his daughter, but she was killed in a car accident shortly after filming began.
“We miss her, we love her,” he said with a lump in his throat. “We made this film for her as a monument. This is a miracle. This one is for you.”
Because of the profit of Pressure grip Quo Vadis, Aida? about the fall of Srebrenica in addition to prices. That Bosnian entry had a Dutch flavor thanks to Dutch actors who played the blue helmets. Incidentally, was also Pressure a little Dutch, thanks to the Amsterdam producer Topkapi.
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