‘The Artist’, ‘A Separation’, other international films and filmmakers take home Oscars
(L-R) Composer Ludovic Bource,actress Penelope Ann Miller, producer Thomas Langmann, director Michel Hazanavicius and actress Berenice Bejo accept the Best Picture Award for ‘The Artist’ onstage during the 84th Annual Academy Awards.
LOS ANGELES — France isn't the only country "going crazy" tonight, as host Billy Crystal joked: the international community made a strong showing at this year's Oscars, as at least eight categories were won by actors, musicians and filmmakers from outside the United States.
France, Italy, Canada, Pakistan and Iran all had representatives holding gold statues by the end of Sunday evening's 84th annual Academy Awards, including five awards for "The Artist," which won best picture and directing for French director Michel Hazanavicius.
The widely acclaimed silent film garnered 10 nominations and won half of them, including costume design and original score by French composer Loudovic Bource.
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French actor Jean Dujardin also won his category, best actor in a leading role.
“I love your country!” Dujardin yelled as he accepted the award for playing a famous silent film star whose career tanks when talkies become popular, The Los Angeles Times reported.
Other notable international wins included Canadian Christopher Plummer's supporting actor Oscar, for his role as a married man dying from cancer who comes out of the closet "The Beginners"; best documentary short for Pakistani documentarian Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Daniel Junge for "Saving Face," about victims of acid throwing in Pakistan; best foreign language film for Iran's stunning "A Separation"; and art direction for "Hugo," done by Italians Dante Ferretti and Francesca Lo Schiavo.
"This is for Italy," Lo Schiavo said in her acceptance speech, as she held up her Oscar.
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The Hollywood Reporter has a complete list of 2012's Oscar winners here.
What do you think of this year's Oscar winners? Should there have been more golden statues awarded to international filmmakers? Let us know in the comments.