Ukrainian director's heartbreaking admission after winning country's first Oscar
A Ukrainian film director made a devastating admission during his acceptance speech at the Oscars.
Mstyslav Chernov confessed he wished he didn't have to make his Oscar-winning film 20 Days in Mariupol while on stage at the Academy Awards. His documentary tells the story of the 20 days that he spent with his Associated Press (AP) news agency colleagues in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol after Russia invaded.
Chernov took home the first Oscar for Ukraine during the award ceremony on Sunday night in Los Angeles. During his speech, the Best Documentary winner said: “I probably will be the first director on this stage to say I wish I never would have made this film. I wish to be able to exchange this (for) Russia never attacking Ukraine, never occupying our cities.
“I wish to give all the recognition (of winning an Oscar for) Russia not killing 10,000s of my fellow Ukrainians. I wish for them to release all the hostages, all the soldiers who (were) protecting their land, all the civilians who are now in their jails but I cannot change history, I cannot change the past.
“But we all together, you… some of the most talented people in the world can make sure the history record is set straight and the truth will prevail and that the people of Mariupol and those who have given their lives will never be forgotten because cinema forms memories, and memories form history.”
Serena Williams finally breaks silence on Will Smith Oscar slap one year on
Mstyslav Chernov gave a heartbreaking acceptance speech (Getty Images)The director finished his speech with “Slava Ukraini”, meaning Glory to Ukraine. While in the winners room, Chernov added: “The topic of supporting Ukraine became a bargaining chip for a lot of politicians in the world… I hope I remind everyone with our film that this is a humanitarian catastrophe and this is not a political question, this is a humanitarian emergency.”
Viewers reacted to the win as one said: "Well deserved…" Another added: "Powerful & Moving acceptance speech. Congrats on this milestone achievement." Someone else commented: "So very well deserved congratulations!" A fourth wrote: "THE FIRST OSCAR FOR UKRAINE."
During the night, Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer was the frontrunner as they received nominations across 13 different categories. The movie brought home an astounding eight Oscars by the end of the night including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Cinematography, and Best Costume design.
It followed American theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, played by actor Cillian Murphy, who worked on the Manhattan Project to create the bomb. It showed the devastating effects he experienced after witnessing the world's first nuclear explosion. Viewers were left baffled when Al Pacino announced Oppenheimer as Best Picture.
The Godfather actor said: "Best Picture…uh, I have to go to the envelope for that. And I will. Here it comes. And my eyes see Oppenheimer?” Viewers were left perplexed by the awkward moment as the actor failed to read out any of the nominations before announcing the winner. One fan said: "I’m obsessed with the way Al Pacino announced Oppenheimer as Best Picture. couldn’t have been more chaotic or confusing lol." Another added: "'My eyes see Oppenheimer?' Al Pacino with an all time #Oscars moment."
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
