BAFTA win puts ‘Roma’ in Oscar’s sight
LONDON: Costume romp The Favourite was the biggest winner at the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) on Sunday, taking seven awards, but Netflix black and white film Roma picked up Best Film, as well as Director, at Britain’s top movie honours.
Alfonso Cuaron’s semi-autobiographical film, about a domestic worker in 1970s Mexico, has won a string of prizes this awards season, further cementing its path to potential Oscar success.
The critically-acclaimed movie had four BAFTA wins, including Cinematography and Film Not in the English Language.
“To see a film about an indigenous domestic worker embraced this way in an age when fear and anger propose to divide us means the world to me,” Cuaron said as he accepted the Best Film prize.
“Reverting back to a world of separation and isolation is not a solution to anything,” Cuaron said, at a time when United States President Donald Trump is demanding a wall be built on the US border with Mexico.
Cuaron thanked Netflix for getting behind the film, which is in Spanish and has garnered 10 Oscar nominations, including for Best Picture, a major recognition for the streaming service.
“If they do good movies, they should be recognised... I’m very happy that they’re embracing diversity... in a time in which the theatrical experience had become so gentrified,” Cuaron said.
“I just hope that this opens up the game. And what is very needed is a balance between the two economic models — the theaters and the (streaming) platforms, because that’s only going to be good for cinema.”
Period drama The Favourite ,in which Olivia Colman stars as Britain’s 18th century Queen Anne, won seven BAFTAs, including Outstanding British film, Original Screenplay, Production Design, Costume Design and Make Up and Hair.
Colman won the Leading Actress category. Her co-star, Rachel Weisz scooped up the Supporting Actress prize, an award for which fellow The Favourite star Emma Stone was also nominated.
“As far as I’m concerned, all three of us are the same and should be the lead... This is for all three of us. It’s got my name on it, but we can scratch in some other names,” Colman said as she picked up her award.