“War is anything but an adventure.” That is the message that the All Quiet Front team launched last night, the Netflix production that won the Bafta for best film and that recounts the terrible experiences of a young soldier on the Western Front during World War I.
The German film, which had been making a name for itself by positioning itself as the foreign-language film with the most nominations in history, won 7 of the 14 awards it was nominated for, among which another big prize stands out, that of best director for Edward Berger . Some awards that, in addition to recognizing talent, highlighted the strong anti-war position of the British Academy. It is worth mentioning that, since Rome, no other non-English language film had won the main category.
For the first time since 2016, the ceremony did not take place in the mythical Royal Albert Hall, but in the Royal Festival Hall in the English capital. It was there that Cate Blanchett was crowned queen after winning the best actress award for Tár, a film in which she gets into the skin of the renowned musician Lydia Tár. The interpreter, visibly moved, thanked the Academy for the opportunity to represent “the experiences of women, thank you for recognizing all of us.” Ana de Armas was also nominated in this category, for Blonde, which ultimately left empty, like Argentina, 1985, by Santiago Mitre, which was up for a statuette for best foreign-language film, but which the German film won rapture.
In the best actor category, the award went to Austin Butler and his Elvis. Undoubtedly, one of the surprises of the night, as Brendan Fraser and Colin Farrell, both Oscar nominees, started as favorites, like their partner.
The acting categories were completed by Kerry Condon and Barry Keoghan, both actress and supporting actor in Inisherin’s Banshee, another of the films that won the most awards last night.
Also on the podium were Charlotte Wells, winner of the Best Debut Award for Aftersun; Emma Mackey, best emerging star, and the Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, for Pinocchio, who claimed that “animation is not something for children. It is an art medium, for everyone. It should be in this conversation.”
Highlights include Ariana DeBose’s energetic musical performance; the announcement in sign language of the Bafta for best supporting actress by the protagonist of CODA, or the recognition of Sandy Powell with the Honorary Bafta. Applauded by the public, the British woman becomes the first costume designer to receive this prestigious honorary award.
Although, if a moment deserves special attention, that is none other than Helen Mirren’s tribute to Elizabeth II in the presence of Kate Middleton and Guillermo, who returned to attend one of the most important events in the United Kingdom after two years of absence and for the first time as Princes of Wales.
The masters of ceremonies, actor Richard E. Grant and television personality Alison Hammond, brought the funny touch to a gala that lasted more than the promised two hours. The Academy’s attempts to make it dynamic were in vain, although it is worth saying that many of the awards were not televised.
Jamie Lee Curtis, nominated for best supporting actress, provided one of the best anecdotes of the night when criticizing Netflix’s decision to ban account sharing. “All members of the industry share the same. You already know the password,” said the actress.
What was missed was a farewell to Carlos Saura. Died on February 10, the Spanish filmmaker, who won a Bafta for Carmen in 1985, did not appear in the video to commemorate influential people in the industry who have recently died. His recent death does not serve as an excuse for some awards that did add Raquel Welch, who died five days later.
