The political fresco One battle after another by the American Paul Thomas Anderson was released on Sunday February 22, the big winner of the Baftas, the British film awards, with six prizes including those for best film and best director.
The triumph of this tragicomedy about the hunt for former revolutionaries by white supremacists, which was nominated 14 times, consolidates its status as a favorite at the Oscars, which will take place on Sunday March 15 in Los Angeles (California).
Interviewed after his victory, Paul Thomas Anderson, whose film echoes the recent actions of the federal immigration police in the United States, stressed the need for “lead the revolution, without violence if possible”and called on the spectators to “keep hope”.
The Baftas, often criticized for not sufficiently highlighting British talents, also created a surprise by distinguishing the 33-year-old interpreter Robert Aramayo as best actor for his role in I Swear. Little known to the public, he plays a young man suffering from Tourette’s syndrome in this dramatic and social comedy, inspired by the story of the Scotsman John Davidson – present, he exploded with joy at the announcement of the reward.
Robert Aramayo was preferred to the Franco-American Timothée Chalamet, nominated for this trophy for his role as a ping-pong player with insatiable ambition in Marty Supremeand Leonardo DiCaprio, headliner ofOne battle after another. “I can’t believe it! “, said Robert Aramayo, moved, saying to himself “happy to have shone the spotlight [sur un syndrome] still very poorly understood ».
Three awards for “Sinners”
The Bafta evening is one of the most glamorous on the London calendar, and Leonardo DiCaprio, Jessie Buckley, Emma Stone, Timothée Chalamet and Paul Mescal have walked the red carpet at the Southbank cultural center, on the banks of the Thames.
Prince William and Princess Kate also responded, after a difficult week for the royal family marked by the arrest of Andrew, the brother of King Charles III, in the Epstein affair. It was the first official outing of the ex-prince. He told the organizers of the evening that he had not seen the Shakespearean drama Hamnetwhich would compete in eleven categories: “I must be in a fairly calm state, which is not the case at the moment. »
This drama-fiction by Chloé Zhao, which explores the grief of the Shakespeare couple after the death of their son, left with only two awards: best British film and best actress for Irishwoman Jessie Buckley. The 36-year-old actress is the big winner of the awards season and ultra-favorite at the Oscars.
At the crossroads of genres between horror, blues film and period drama, Sinners by the American Ryan Coogler (Black Panther), who won a record 16 Oscar nominationsleaves with three awards.
“Sentimental Value”, best non-English film
British-Nigerian actress Wunmi Mosaku won best supporting actress for this fantasy-tinged period film set in segregationist America in the 1930s. “I found a part of myself in Annie, a part of my hopes, my ancestral power and my connections, aspects that I thought I had lost (…) as an immigrant seeking to integrate”declared the 39-year-old interpreter.
Since 2022, no British actor or actress has been crowned at the Bafta which, after a reform of their academy in 2020, has the winners elected by voters with a more international profile. A change which has been felt on the prize lists, where ceremonies like the Césars in France or the Goyas in Spain further promote national cinema.
Sentimental valuea film by Dano-Norwegian Joachim Trier about the painful relationship of a filmmaker father with his two daughters, won the prize for best non-English language film. “This is the first time a Norwegian has won a Baftahe rejoiced on stage. We are generally better at skiing! »
Paddington, the most famous bear, made an appearance to present the award for best film for children and families, won by the Indian Stupid.
