AFP-BNS

The tragicomical Cinderella story Anora, set in the dark world of modern-day New York’s strip dancers, Russian billionaires, and failed gangsters, won the Oscar for Best Film on Sunday.

Directed by American independent filmmaker Sean Baker, it tells the story of an escort who marries the son of an oligarch.

The low-budget film, which captivated the voters of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, beat out nine competitors, including Conclave and The Brutalist.

Adrien Brody won his second Oscar, taking home the Best Actor award for his role in The Brutalist. He portrayed a Jewish immigrant and architect striving for the American Dream. He won his first Oscar 20 years ago for his role in The Pianist when he was 29 years old.

Zoe Saldana was recognized as Best Supporting Actress for her role in Emilia Perez, where she played the trusted associate of a Mexican drug lord. This Spanish-language musical was released on Netflix.

The film also won an Oscar for Best Original Song – El Mal. It was one of the favorites for Best Film, but its chances diminished when offensive comments from lead actress Karla Sofia Gascon appeared online.

The Brazilian film I’m Still Here, based on the true story of a mother of five whose husband goes missing during the military dictatorship, made history on Sunday by winning Brazil’s first Oscar in the main category.

However, the film did not win Best Film – that award went to Anora. Brazilian actress Fernanda Torres also did not receive an Oscar for Best Actress.

The film is based on the poignant 2015 memoir written by Marcelo Rubens Paiva, the son of the main character, Eunice Paiva. I’m Still Here depicts the family’s painful loss and perseverance, revealing their struggle against oppression.

Flow – a silent cat’s parable – won the Oscar for Best Animated Film at the 97th Academy Awards ceremony. This win gave Latvian director Gints Zilbalodis his first Oscar.

Flow was created using Blender, a free, open-source graphics software for computer animation. The result is a dreamy aesthetic intertwined with a peaceful yet post-apocalyptic tale about a black cat, a dog, a capybara, a lemur, and a secretary bird trying to survive a catastrophic flood. The film has no dialogue, so viewers immerse themselves in the unexpected relationships and mutual understanding between these different animals as they attempt to escape the rising waters.

“I think a lot more can be expressed without words. Some emotions and ideas I couldn’t express with words, but through music, sound, movement, and editing, I can say so much more,” said the director backstage. “These types of films are the ones I like the most because they’re truly cinematic and transcend cultural boundaries.”

This is only Zilbalodis’ second animated film.