Major Win for "Anora" at the Oscars Gala: "A Dream"

The drama comedy "Anora" became a major success, which is about a young sex worker from Brooklyn and her stormy affair with the son of a Russian oligarch.

The film won, in addition to best film, also best direction, editing, original screenplay, and Mikey Madison was awarded for best female lead.

— This role gave me confidence as an actress and revived my love for film, says the visibly moved 25-year-old after the gala.

Director Sean Baker says in an interview that sex work has gotten an unfair stigma.

— What I've tried to do with my films is to weaken the stigma. Personally, I think it should be decriminalized, and hopefully, I make characters, who in other films and TV series are often seen as caricatures, more human.

"Wicked"-stars opened

Adrien Brody became the winner of best male lead, for "Brutalisten". He won his first Oscar in 2003.

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo opened the 97th Academy Awards with a double song number. First with "Somewhere over the rainbow" from "The Wizard of Oz" (1939) and then "Defying gravity" from "Wicked".

Despite a serious opening with a reference to the tense world situation and the fires in Los Angeles, host Conan O'Brien quickly lightened the mood in the Dolby Theatre.

Straughan about the Pope: "Tasteless"

Kieran Culkin received the first statuette of the evening for best male supporting role in "A real pain". An unexpected win – Guy Pearce was the favorite tip for "Brutalisten".

Zoë Saldaña could barely hold back tears when she received her Oscar for best female supporting role in "Emilia Pérez". She is the first American of Dominican origin to win a statuette.

I'm the first and I know I won't be the last, she said.

Swedish disappointment

Peter Straughan won the prize for best screenplay based on a novel for "Konklaven" — which is about electing a new Pope — and was asked if it felt surreal that the real Pope's failing health might make the film become reality.

— It feels a bit tasteless to bring up the Pope's health problems in such a festive atmosphere, but we wish him well and hope he recovers soon, said Straughan.

However, there was no Oscar for the big Swedish hope, director Magnus von Horn, whose Danish film "Flickan med nålen" was nominated for best international film. Nor did the Swedish-produced documentary "Black box diaries" win a prize.

Alice Nordevik/TT

Petra Weiss/TT

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