The 94th edition of the Oscar awards will be face-to-face again this March 27, and we will once again be able to see thousands of actors, filmmakers and artists gathered on the most important night in the film industry. The history of the Academy Awards is surrounded by many anecdotes and curiosities. Although several have been nominated on more than one occasion, the speeches of the winners are always the most unexpected of the night.
Some have used their time on television to deliver a political message, as did Michael Mooreor show overflowing joy, as was the case with Robert Benigni. On the other hand, others mark a historic moment, such as the award for Kathryn Bigelow, who was the first woman to win for best direction.
In that sense, we go back in time to show you the seven most memorable and controversial speeches that have occurred in the entire history of Oscar awards. Will we have to add any more next March 27?
YOU CAN SEE: Oscar 2022: the controversial and criticized nominated film that you can now see on Disney +
1. Marlon Brando and Sacheen Littlefeather
One of the most remembered and most uncomfortable moments in the history of the Oscars was the speech given by Sacheen Littlefeather, of Apache native origin and president of the National Native American Affirmative Image Committee, representing Marlon Brandon, who won the statuette Best Actor for “The Godfather” by Francis Ford Coppola.
Littlefeather was representing the iconic actor, who refused to receive the statuette as a form of protest against the film industry’s treatment of American Indians. “The film community has been as responsible as anyone for demeaning the Indian and mocking his character, depicting him as savage, hostile and evil,” Brando wrote in one of the excerpts from the letter mentioned by Littlefeather.
2.Halle Berry
Without a doubt, one of the most emotional acceptance speeches of the new millennium. Iconic actress Halle Berry became the first African-American woman to win an Oscar for best actress for her performance in “Monster’s Ball.” The interpreter received her statuette in tears and offered a few words that remained in the memory of all the spectators.
“This moment is so much bigger than me. This moment is for Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, Diahann Carroll. It’s for the women next to me, Jada Pinkett, Angela Bassett, Vivica Fox. And it’s For every nameless, faceless woman of color who now has a chance because this door has been opened tonight.” were the words with which he began his speech and that earned him thousands of applause.
3.Michael Moore
One of the most direct and challenging acceptance speeches that have been heard at the Oscars. Michael Moore directed his message against the president of that time, George Bush, telling him that his military operation in Iraq was a shame, in addition to the fact that his election as president of the United States was fictitious. The filmmaker won the best documentary award for “Bowling for Columbine.”
4. Roberto Benigni
The filmmaker and actor won the Oscar for best foreign film for “Life is beautiful”, one of the most emotional films of all time. In the same way, this was his reaction to being named the winner of the statuette. The director stood up on the seats of the place and walked on the shoulders of some of the attendees with his arms raised celebrating his victory. “I am not able to express all my gratitude, because now my body is in turmoil because it is a colossal moment of joy”, were some of the words that he offered to the audience.
5. Patricia Arquette
Patricia Arquette was the winner of the Oscar for best supporting actress for “Boyhood”. In her acceptance speech, the interpreter demanded gender equality within the film industry. “To all the women who have given birth, who pay their taxes and who are citizens of this nation and who have fought for the rights of all others. It is high time that we have once and for all the same salary (as men) and the same rights for women in the United States of America”, sentenced.
6. Joaquin Phoenix
In 2020, the Joker character won a statuette again, but this time by actor Joaquin Phoenix, who won the best actor award for Todd Phillips’ “Joker”. His speech was one of the most emotional and reflective that has been heard in the history of the gala.
“Whether we’re talking about gender inequality or racism or queer rights or indigenous rights or animal rights, we’re talking about fighting injustice; we are talking about the fight against the belief that one nation, one people, one race, one gender, one species has the right to dominate, use and control another with impunity. I think we’ve become very disconnected from the natural world. When I was 17, my brother (River) wrote this. He said: ‘run to the rescue with love and peace will come’”, It was part of Phoenix’s speech.
7. Kathryn Bigelow
The history books of the Oscar Awards will remember this moment as the one in which a woman won the statuette for best direction for the first time. Kathryn Bigelow was the only woman nominated and won for her film “The hurt locker” and, as reflected in her film, she dedicated the award to the women and men of the armed forces who risk their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, wishing them return home safe and sound.
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