The Bafta are supposed to prefigure the Oscars. If this is indeed the case, the film “In the West, nothing new” is on its way to a triumph. The film, produced in German by Netflix, won a very large following on Sunday evening February 19 by winning seven Bafta, the British cinema 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 New tells the story of young men who, poisoned by right-wing nationalist political propaganda, go to war thinking it’s an adventure. 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, which was held at the Royal Festival Hall in London. It was released on both Netflix and theatrically in the UK.
Nominated in 14 categories in total, he equaled “Tiger and Dragon” (2000) for the number of nominations for a film made in a language other than English. He is also multi-nominated for the Oscars next month.
Another taste of the Oscars? Cate Blanchett wins the Bafta for Best Actress for her role as the ruthless conductor in “tar”and greeted upon receiving his award a “extraordinary year for women”.
Cate Blanchett: “I am very worried about democracy”
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 ultimately won four awards, notably for the best supporting roles awarded to Barry Keoghan and Kerry Condon, as well as in the categories best British film – although the feature film is Irish – and that for Best Original Screenplay.
Baz Luhrmann: “Elvis reports more dead than alive”
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 Irish actors named), but also with “My dates with Leo” And “After Sun”named in the category best actor with respectively the Irish Daryl McCormack and Paul Mescal.
Named in ten categories, the feature film “Everything Everywhere at Once”where 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 Oscars will be awarded on March 12 in Los Angeles.
