Ex-city student Glazer’s Gaza warning at Oscars
BRITISH film director Jonathan Glazer – a former Nottingham student – condemned the ongoing attacks in Gaza as he accepted an Oscar for his film about the banality of evil during the Holocaust.
The Zone Of Interest, based on the 2014 novel by Martin Amis, won the best international feature Oscar.
The harrowing film stars German actor Christian Friedel as Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Hoss while Sandra Huller plays his wife Hedwig. Hoss is widely acknowledged as one of the architects of the Holocaust.
Much of the film follows the mundanity of family life, never venturing inside the camp, while the background sound and the billowing smoke hints at the horrors over the fence.
Glazer’s hands appeared to tremble as he read a pre-written speech, saying: “Our film shows where dehumanisation leads at its worst – it’s shaped all of our past and present.
“Right now we stand here as men who refute their Jewishness and the Holocaust being hijacked by an occupation which has led to conflict for so many innocent people. Whether it’s the victims of October 7 in Israel or the ongoing attack on Gaza, all are victims of this dehumanisation. How do we resist?”
Glazer attended Trent Polytechnic in the city before it became Nottingham Trent University. He also made Sexy Beast, starring Ray Winstone and Sir Ben Kingsley, and Under The Skin, starring Scarlett Johansson.
Michael Marsden, executive dean of the Nottingham School of Art and Design at the university, said: “We all feel a great degree of pride seeing Jonathan win best international film at the Academy Awards. It is among the most prestigious of honours for a filmmaker to receive and further recognition that he is one of the most outstanding directors of his generation.
“He remains a great friend to the Design for Theatre and Live Performance course which he graduated from 37 years ago and we are proud to say that he is one of our alumni.”
CHRISTOPHER Nolan’s epic biopic Oppenheimer has swept the Oscars, winning seven prizes, including best director for Nolan, ending his 22-year wait for an Academy Award.
The film about J Robert Oppenheimer, the theoretical physicist described as the father of the atomic bomb, was also named best picture, while its star, Cillian Murphy, won best actor, the first Irish winner of this award.
Robert Downey Jr was named best supporting actor for his turn as Lewis Strauss, head of the Atomic Energy Commission, securing him his first Oscar win.
The film was also celebrated for its editing, score and cinematography. Collecting his directing trophy, Nolan thanked his wife and producer of the film, Emma Thomas, as well as Murphy.
Nolan said: “Thank you for those who have been there for me and believed in me my whole career.”
He added: “To the Academy, just to say movies are just a little bit over 100 years old... I mean imagine being there 100 years into painting or theatre.
“We don’t know where this incredible journey is going from here. But to know that you think that I’m a meaningful part of it means the world to me. Thank you very much.”
Murphy, 47, kissed his wife, artist Yvonne Mcguinness, before heading to the stage, where he said making the film had “been the wildest, most creatively satisfying journey”.
“I am a very proud Irishman standing here tonight,” he added.
Acknowledging “we are all living in Oppenheimer’s world now”, he added: “I would like to dedicate this to the peacemakers of the world.”
Emma Stone was named best actress for the surreal comedy Poor Things, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, about a woman who is given the brain of a baby. Da’vine Joy Randolph was named best supporting actress for her role as a grieving cook in The Holdovers, about a grumpy teacher who stays at school over the holidays.
The highly publicised battle between Barbie, Greta Gerwig’s film about the Mattel doll, and Oppenheimer, failed to materialise because Gerwig’s film only won one award – the best original song prize for What Was I Made For? by Billie Eilish and her brother, Finneas O’connell.