Israel's war on Gaza has cast a shadow over the Oscars. Protesters gathered outside the red carpet ahead of the event. But it was a film about the Second World War and the creation of the atomic bomb that was the big winner.


Los Angeles

The Oscars ceremony has concluded with mixed emotions as external events influence its proceedings. Oppenheimer, a film exploring the developments of the Second World War and the creation of the atomic bomb, dominated the awards, securing a significant victory amidst challenging circumstances. The event, however, was not without controversy, as the ongoing conflict in Gaza found its way into the spotlight. 

Protesters expressing their concerns about Israel's war on Gaza gathered outside the venue, marking a distinct shadow over the red-carpet festivities. These demonstrations underline the broader global issues that intersect with cultural celebrations such as the Oscars. Despite the mounting tensions, the ceremony proceeded, highlighting the power of cinema to address complex historical and contemporary issues.



Oscars 2024: Oppenheimer sweeps; Gaza grabs spotlight

Hollywood came together to honor itself on a night when the world around it is at war. Demonstrators gathered near the event calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Their presence was felt and not only because the protests delayed Los Angeles traffic. And actors inside were artists for ceasefire pins to show they support an end to Israel's assault. Rami Yousef, who plays a supporting role in the film Poor Things, told Variety what the symbol meant. We're calling for immediate, permanent ceasefire in Gaza. We're calling for peace and justice, lasting justice for the people of Palestine. And I think it's a universal message of just let's stop killing kids. But on the Oscars stage, real wars, those ongoing and those in the past, were a constant theme. The Zone of Interest, a stark historical portrait of the domestic life of an architect of the Holocaust, won for Best International Feature Film. Its director, Jonathan Glazer, used his moment to highlight the horrors of the 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 the victims of October the 7th in Israel or the ongoing attack on Gaza, all are victims of this dehumanization. War took home the award for nonfiction. Twenty Days in Mariupol, a tense film about journalists covering the early days of Russia's war on Ukraine behind the front lines, won Best Documentary. And it was war, and the question of how to remember its worst extremes, that was the subject of the film that gathered the most awards in total. Best Picture, Director, Actor, and four other trophies went to Oppenheimer. We made a film about the man who created the atomic bomb, and for better or for worse, we're all living in Oppenheimer's world. So I would really like to dedicate this to the peacemakers everywhere. With so many bloody conflicts raging far from Hollywood, it's not clear who can play that role in the real world. Wilson Dysart, Al Jazeera.

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