In the west, nothing is newa German production from Netflix, won a very large following on Sunday evening by winning seven Bafta, the British film awards, including those for best film and best director for the German Edward Berger.
A century after Erich Maria Remarque’s famous 1929 pacifist novel brought to the screen here, producer Malte Grunert has underlined how relevant its message is. “In the west, nothing is new tells the story of young men who, poisoned by right-wing nationalist political propaganda, go to war thinking it’s an adventure”, did he declare“and war is anything but an adventure”.
The film, which follows a young German soldier during the First World War, is dedicated in seven categories during this 76th Bafta ceremony, held at the Royal Festival Hall in London. It was released on both Netflix and in theaters in the UK. He was nominated in 14 categories in total, equaling Tiger and Dragon (2000) which held the record for nominations for a film made in a language other than English. He is also multi-nominated for the Oscars next month.
Cate Blanchett best actress
Cate Blanchett wins the Bafta for Best Actress for her role as the ruthless conductor in Tar. She saluted as she received her award a “extraordinary year for women”. American Austin Butler won the best actor award for his role in the biopic. Elvis on the rock’n roll legend, winning at the expense of Colin Farrell, who was among the big favorites for The Banshees of Inisherin.
This tragicomedy about the sudden breakdown of a friendship finally won four awards, including Best Supporting Actor awarded to Barry Keoghan and Kerry Condon, as well as Best British Film – although the feature film is Irish – and Best Screenplay original.
Ireland was particularly in the spotlight this year: a quarter of the 24 nominations in the acting categories went to Irish people thanks to the Banshees by Martin McDonagh (four named Irish actors), but also with My dates with Leo by Sophie Hyde And aftersun by Charlotte Wells, named in the category best actor with respectively the Irish Daryl McCormack and Paul Mescal.
“Everything Everywhere All At Once” is the big loser
Nominated in ten categories, the feature film Everything Everywhere All At Oncewhere Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh plays a laundry owner immersed in parallel universes only won the Bafta for best editing.
In total this year, 45 films were nominated in one or more categories, down slightly from last year (48).
The prize for best documentary went to Navalny, devoted to the Russian opponent Alexeï Navalny, against a backdrop of controversy, after the boss of the Bellingcat investigation site, Christo Grozev, was prevented from attending the ceremony for security reasons. London police cited the risk of“hostile intentions of foreign states”.
More than five months after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Helen Mirren has presented a tribute to the monarch. The 77-year-old actress had won an Oscar and a Bafta for her portrayal of the sovereign in the film The Queen in 2006. Prince William, the Queen’s grandson and Bafta president since 2010, attended the ceremony with his wife Kate for the first time since 2019.
The Bafta ceremony, like that of the Golden Globes, gives a taste of the Oscars, which will be awarded on March 12 in Los Angeles.