The independent film Anora secured an unexpected victory at the Oscars through five consecutive wins that included Best Picture and Best Actress awards. The evening turned into a success story for surprise winners when Adrien Brody earned Best Actor as well as when Anora swept five awards for Best Picture.
The movie premiered at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, as it won the Palme d’Or recognition before following the narrative of a Russian oligarch’s son becoming married to a sex worker character played by Mikey Madison. The Palme d’Or award of 2019 established itself as one of four films that won both Best Picture at the Oscars and Cannes’ top honor.
History-Making Wins
Creating history, Sean Baker succeeded in achieving four Oscars in a single night; he took home the Director, Editor, and Original Screenplay awards while becoming the inaugural winner to receive these honors for the same production. During his speech at the award show, Baker recognized the sex worker community through these words.
“They have shared their stories, they have shared their life experiences over the years. My deepest respect—I share this with you.”
Later, in his Best Director speech, he said to filmmakers: “Where did we fall in love with the movies? At the movie theatre.” He urged Hollywood to continue making films for the big screen, emphasizing the importance of the communal viewing experience.
A Shocking Best Actress Win
Mikey Madison, just 25, claimed Best Actress over frontrunner Demi Moore, who had been heavily favored for her role in The Substance after wins at the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards.
“This is very surreal,” Madison said, before adding, “I also just want to recognize and honor the sex worker community. I will continue to support and be an ally.”
Moore’s The Substance ended up with just one award—for Best Makeup and Hairstyling—despite being considered a major contender.
Jokes, Politics, and Applause
Host Conan O’Brien couldn’t resist poking fun at Anora’s unexpected dominance, joking,
“I guess Americans are excited to see someone finally stand up to a powerful Russian.”
The line received thunderous applause. Adrien Brody received his second Oscar through his work in The Brutalist, which was directed by Brady Corbet in this postwar drama. He described acting as a “fragile profession” before stating his new approach as “the chance to begin again.” Brody maintained his footprint while the orchestra attempted to bring an end to the musical performance.
“This is not my first rodeo!” he declared before using his time to call out antisemitism and racism. “I pray for a healthier, happier, and more inclusive world,” he concluded.
The win of BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards positions Anora as the main rival for Conclave, according to many viewers. Only Best Adapted Screenplay remained as the sole Oscar win for the papal election thriller during the awards ceremony. The Oscars stand as a record-breaking event in recent time due to Anora’s unmatched wins as well as its upsets in this year’s competition.
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