DURBAN DATELINE:
Friday, 14 March 2025
SOUTH AFRICA
BY MARLAN PADAYACHEE
LEFT OF WHAT'S RIGHT
And the Oscars Goes To ...
The World’s Annual Film Awards Extravaganza Bristles with Beauty and the Beasts
Amidst the torrential rains and devastating floods in my home province, I turned to the Oscars
for a respite. It was a time when nature’s fury wreaked havoc—destroying homes, claiming lives
in Greater Durban—and yet, Hollywood continued its annual pageantry, providing a momentary
escape from reality. As I watched the Oscar ceremony unfold against the backdrop of
snowstorms, fires, and the chaotic antics of a maverick USA president, I couldn’t help but reflect
on the timeless allure of the silver screen.
Movies, after all, serve as a classic form of escapism, a way to momentarily forget the
messiness of the world. For me, films have always been an integral part of my life, from The
Gods Must Be Crazy—with its iconic moment of a Coca-Cola bottle falling from the sky to the
feet of an intrepid Khoi-San hunter-gatherer in the desert — to the storytelling traditions of
Hollywood and Bollywood. Both are grand spectacles of narrative, just as vibrant and soul-
stirring as the melodies of Motown, reggae, or Ravi Shankar’s sitar.
This year’s Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O'Brien at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on
Sunday, 2 March, were no exception. As the Oscars neared their centennial celebration in 2029,
the event was again a glittering celebration of the finest achievements in filmmaking. Over 20
million viewers tuned in for the live broadcast, with predictions and previews abounding in the
media, hyping up the big night with stories of Hollywood’s brightest stars and most anticipated
films.
It’s a spectacle like no other, filled with celebrity journalists, TV personalities, and clownish
commentators like Guillermo Rodriguez, who lightens the atmosphere with his mischievous
antics on the red carpet by offering Tequila shots to start-struck actors.
This year, the Oscars were full of surprises and interesting nominations. Among the top
contenders for Best Picture were Conclave and Anora, two films with radically different stories
but equally compelling performances. Conclave, a tense thriller set in the Vatican, especially
timely with the near-death condition of Pope Francis, garnered rave reviews, while Anora, a
daring exploration of a young sex worker who marries the son of a Russian oligarch, turned
heads with its unexpected narrative.
By the end of the night, the following awards were announced:
Best Picture: Anora
Best Director: Sean Baker for Anora
Best Actress: Mikey Madison for Anora
Best Actor: Adrien Brody for The Brutalist
Best Supporting Actress: Zoë Saldaña for Emilia Pérez
Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin for A Real Pain
Best Animated Feature Film: Flow (a Latvian debut film)
Best Documentary Feature: No Other Land
Anora was particularly noteworthy, garnering five Oscars despite criticism that it verged on
pornography. The film’s success demonstrated the power of bold, nuanced storytelling, while
The Brutalist gave Adrien Brody his second Oscar, continuing his streak of memorable
performances.
Another notable international film was I Am Still Here (Ainda Estou Aqui), directed by Walter
Salles. This Brazilian drama, about a widow coping with the loss of her activist husband during
the country’s military dictatorship, won the Oscar for Best International Feature Film. This was a
historic win for Brazil, and the film’s success served as a reminder of the power of cinema to
bridge historical divides and revitalise national pride, akin to samba soccer, and dribbled Brazil’s
FIFA World Cup legend out of play as it packed cinemas.
But the Oscars are not without their controversies. Marlon Brando’s refusal to accept his 1973
Oscar for The Godfather, in protest against Hollywood’s portrayal of Native Americans, remains
one of the most unforgettable moments in Oscar history. He sent activist Sacheen Littlefeather
to decline the award on his behalf, citing the mistreatment of Indigenous people. The Academy’s
apology to Littlefeather in 2022 was long overdue, but it’s a testament to how the Oscars have
often mirrored the larger societal battles of the time.
Closer to home, the South African connection to the Oscars is both proud and bittersweet.
Charlize Theron’s 2004 win for Best Actress in Monster remains a defining moment for South
Africa’s film industry. In her emotional acceptance speech, Theron acknowledged her humble
roots, calling attention to the sacrifices made by her mother to allow her to pursue her dreams.
Her win was a source of national pride, and even President Thabo Mbeki declared a national
day in her honour.
On the local front, films like Yesterday (2004), Tsotsi (2005), and District 9 (2009) were
nominated for Oscars, but none of them won. This year, The Last Ranger, a true-life film about
rhino poaching, was nominated for Best Live Action Short Film, but did not win. While South
Africa continues to make strides in the global film industry, there’s a sense that some of our
most impactful stories—Cry, the Beloved Country and Long Walk to Freedom—have yet to
capture the Oscar-winning magic, despite the backing of Durban’s movie-making mogul Anant
Singh.
People and names are at the heart of our media business. Here are the actors who made us
proud:
Charlize Theron – South Africa's most internationally recognized actress, with an Oscar
win for Monster (2003) and a nomination for North Country (2005).
John Kani – A veteran actor and playwright, Kani earned acclaim in Hollywood for his role
in Black Panther (2018), continuing to represent South Africa on the global stage.
Sharlto Copley – Known for his breakthrough performance in District 9 (2009), which
earned Oscar nominations, Copley helped elevate South African talent in Hollywood.
Leleti Khumalo – Renowned for her role in Sarafina! (1992) alongside Whoopi Goldberg.
The film brought South Africa into the socio-political spotlight and was nominated for Best
Original Song, “Bring Him Back Home” by Hugh Masekela.
Trevor Noah – While not nominated for an acting Oscar, Trevor Noah gained international
acclaim for his autobiography Born a Crime and his role as host of The Daily Show,
particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Miriam Makeba – The legendary singing sensation, who brought attention to apartheid by
addressing the United Nations General Assembly. Her activism made her stateless but
cemented her place in global history.
Across Africa, Rami Malek, of Egyptian origin, won the Best Actor Oscar for his stunning
portrayal of Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody (2018), further enhancing African
representation in Hollywood.
As the awards season wrapped up, I couldn’t help but reflect on what these moments mean.
The Oscars, like any major public event, are a combination of spectacle and controversy,
celebration and exclusion. For every film that wins, there are countless untold stories, unseen
filmmakers, and unsung heroes. As South African filmmakers continue to push the boundaries of
storytelling, we can only hope that the next century of the Oscars will offer more opportunities for
our voices to be heard.
Marlan Padayachee is a still-practising, award-winning, seasoned journalist and
photographer, with experience as a former political, diplomatic, and foreign
correspondent, and works as a media strategist, consulting editor, freelance journalist,
and publisher with MapMedia GreenGold Consulting (Pty) Limited, and may be contacted
via: marlan.padayachee@gmail.com.
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