The 92nd Academy Awards are live on ABC from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on Sunday, February 9 at 8pm ET.
The movies as we know them today can be traced back to the Lumière brothers shorts screened in Paris in 1895. It’s funny that “lumière” means “light” in French. From those French beginnings, today’s movie industry is still more Latin than you think.
[People tend to see the meaning of “Latin” through their own cultural lens. In Europe, Latin means Italian. In New York, it means Caribbean. Across the United States, it means Mexican. Oh and if Mexico, Brazil, Cuba and Spain are heritage countries, so is coastal Africa. As far as we’re concerned, it’s all good (todo bien), and if not, maybe it’s time to get bigger lenses.]
2020 Oscar Nominees
These films nominated for the 92nd Academy Awards (Oscars 2020) have Latin connections.
Best Picture
“Parasite” made history by becoming the first non-English language movie to win Best Picture.
Ford vs Ferrari
It’s a U.S. American movie working to beat an Italian car at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France in 1966.
The Irishman
Director Martin Scorsese is Italian-American and the movie is about Italian gangs in the 1950s. The Irishman Review
Joker
Lead actor Joaquin Phoenix was born in Puerto Rico, although nobody thinks he is culturally Puerto Rican.
1917
Director Sam Mendes (“American Beauty,” “Skyfall,” “Spectre”) is English from a Portuguese-Creole-Trinidadian-Jewish family.
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Director Quentin Tarantino is Italian-Irish-American from Knoxville, Tennessee.
Best Actor
Puerto Rico-born Joaquin Phoenix wins Best Actor for his work in “Joker.”
Antonio Banderas, “Pain and Glory”
Banderas is a Spanish actor from Málaga. Pain and Glory review
Leonardo DiCaprio, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
DiCaprio is an Italian-German-Russian-American.
Joaquin Phoenix, “Joker”
Phoenix was born in Puerto Rico, although nobody thinks he is culturally Puerto Rican.
Jonathan Pryce, “The Two Popes”
Pryce is Welsh, but he plays the Argentine Pope Francis.
Best Actress
Reneé Zellweger won for her work in “Judy.”
Cynthia Erivo, “Harriet”
Cynthia Erivo, “Harriet” is Nigerian-English.
Best Director
South Korean director Bong Joon-ho won Best Director for his work in “Parasite.”
Martin Scorsese, “The Irishman”
Scorsese is Italian-American and the movie is about Italian gangs in the 1950s. The Irishman Review
Sam Mendes, “1917”
Mendes (“American Beauty,” “Skyfall,” “Spectre”) is English from a Portuguese-Creole-Trinidadian-Jewish family.
Quentin Tarantino, (Italian-Irish)
Tarantino is Italian-Irish-American from Knoxville, Tennessee.
Best International Feature Film
“Parasite” (South Korea) won Best International Feature Film.
This used to be called “Best Foreign Language Film,” but then which language is foreign? The United States is the country with the second-most Spanish speakers after Mexico. Thank you Academy of Motion Picture Arts for trying.
“Les Misérables,” Ladj Ly
Ly is a French director and screenwriter. He is Malian-French from Paris. The film won a Jury Prize at Cannes in 2019. The famous story is based on Victor Hugo’s novel about the dispossessed in France.
Ly sets the film in Montfermeil, one of the suburbs that ring Paris and are populated by people who are French, but are treated as outcasts. This is what happens when countries don’t integrate all their people. This can happen, or is happening, to us too.
“Pain and Glory,” Pedro Almodovar
Almodovar’s semi-autobiographical story is Spanish. Pain and Glory review
Supporting Actor
Brad Pitt won for his work in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.”
Anthony Hopkins, “The Two Popes”
Hopkins (like Jonathan Pryce) is Welsh-American, but he plays a German pope in an Italian religion.
Al Pacino, “The Irishman”
Pacino is Italian-American from East Harlem. East Harlem was an Italian neighborhood before it became El Barrio. The Irishman Review
Joe Pesci, “The Irishman”
Pesci is Italian-American from Newark, New Jersey. The Irishman Review
Animated Short
“Hair Love” won.
“Memorable,” Bruno Collet
Collet is French. France is one of the countries that dominates animation.
Original Screenplay
Bong Joon-Ho won for “Parasite.”
“1917,” Sam Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns
Mendes (“American Beauty,” “Skyfall,” “Spectre”) is English from a Portuguese-Creole-Trinidadian-Jewish family.
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Quentin Tarantino
Tarantino is Italian-Irish-American from Knoxville, Tennessee.
Cinematography
Roger Deakins won for “1917.”
“The Irishman,” Rodrigo Prieto
We didn’t know that one of Scorsese’s regular lead cinematographer is Mexican. The Irishman Review
Best Documentary Feature
“American Factory” won.
“The Edge of Democracy,” Petra Costa
Costa is Brazilian [not Portuguese from Lisboa]. The movie is about the current political situation in Brazil.
[This could be is about our country too. Let’s get things back together.]
Thanks Cinema Tropical for correcting us on Costa’s origin.
Best Documentary Short Subject
“Learning to Skate in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl) won.
“Walk Run Cha-Cha,” Laura Nix
Cha-Cha is a Cuban dance.
Best Live Action Short Film
The “Neighbors’ Window” won.
“Nefta Football Club,” Yves Piat
Piat is a French filmmaker.
Sound Mixing
“1917” won.
“Ford v Ferrari”
It’s a U.S. American movie working to beat an Italian car at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France in 1966.
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
Director Quentin Tarantino is Italian-Irish-American from Knoxville, Tennessee.
Costume Design
Jacqueline Durran won for her work in “Little Women.”
“Jojo Rabbit,” Mayes C. Rubeo
Rubeo (Avatar, World War Z, Thor: Ragnorak) is a Mexican costume designer from Mexico City.
Congratulations to the many great filmmakers won or who were nominated (regardless of where you, your parents or grandparents are from).
For complete information, visit oscar.go.com