Anora and The Brutalist Achieve Big Wins with 5 and 3 Awards

Los Angeles: Sean Baker’s film “Anora,” which tells the story of a sex worker who marries the privileged son of a Russian oligarch, had a remarkable night at the 97th Academy Awards, claiming five Oscars, including the prestigious Best Picture award.

The award ceremony took place amid one of the most devastating natural disasters in Los Angeles’ history. The Oscars paid tribute to firefighters who assisted communities affected by the recent wildfires and included a montage of iconic films shot in the city, from “The Long Goodbye” to “Licorice Pizza.”

Sean Baker, the creative force behind “Anora,” received accolades for his work as producer, director, editor, and screenwriter of the film.

“Anora” not only emerged as a critical favorite but also marked an important milestone for Neon, the independent distributor behind the film, which had previously steered “Parasite” to its Best Picture victory in 2020. Despite its acclaim, “Anora” has reportedly earned only $40 million worldwide, making it one of the lowest-grossing Best Picture winners in Oscar history, according to Variety.

Top acting honors were awarded to Adrien Brody and Mikey Madison. Brody, a past Oscar winner for “The Pianist,” portrayed a brilliant yet troubled architect in “The Brutalist,” while Madison achieved an upset victory for her role as an exotic dancer desperately seeking an annulment.

“Growing up in Los Angeles, Hollywood always felt distant, so being here today is truly amazing,” Madison shared, emphasizing her commitment to supporting the sex worker community and identifying as “an ally.”

Brody’s award, which contributed to “The Brutalist” receiving three Oscars, came after a challenging period in his career where he felt sidelined by the industry. He noted, “Acting is a fragile profession. Everything can change suddenly, and this night is a reminder of that. I’m grateful to continue doing what I love.”

Kieran Culkin received the Best Supporting Actor award for his role as a troubled man traveling through Poland with his cousin, while Zoe Saldana won Best Supporting Actress for her performance in “Emilia Pérez,” where she portrayed an attorney assisting a cartel leader with gender affirmation surgery.

With tears in her eyes, Saldana expressed pride in her heritage, stating, “I am a proud child of immigrant parents. I am the first person of Dominican descent to accept an Academy Award, and I definitely won’t be the last.”

Other notable winners included “I’m Still Here,” which took home the award for Best International Feature, making history as Brazil’s first Oscar win. “Flow,” an adventurous animation from Latvia about a cat navigating a flood, won Best Animated Feature, beating contenders like “The Wild Robot” and “Inside Out 2.” Additionally, “No Other Land,” which explores the Israeli government’s actions to displace Palestinians in the West Bank, won Best Documentary, despite hurdles in distribution.

Conan O’Brien, known for his late-night television career and now a podcasting phenomenon, hosted the Oscars for the first time, taking over from Jimmy Kimmel, who had held the position for three consecutive years. His opening monologue humorously addressed various topics, from the early start time of the ceremony to social media controversies surrounding “Emilia Pérez” star Karla Sofia Gascón.

This year’s ceremony also featured a tribute to the James Bond franchise, which garnered attention last month after Amazon MGM acquired creative control from the Broccoli family.