LIGHTS, CAMERA, GEOPOLITICS
- Arunudoi Bhattacharya
- Mar 16
- 4 min read
How the Oscars reflect a new world order!
The Oscars, Hollywood's most glamorous night, have long been more than a glamorous award ceremony. It's a cultural mirror, reflecting not only the pinnacle of cinema but also the changing political and social tides of the world. This year's Oscars, during a period of global transformation, provided an intriguing glimpse into the intersection of politics and film, particularly in response to President Donald Trump's actions and the changing dynamics between nations.
Hollywood has long been a loud voice of criticism for conservative politics, frequently employing the Oscars podium to promote progressive ideals and criticise policies it opposes. For instance, at the 2017 Oscars, held shortly after Donald Trump's inauguration, the show was riddled with biting political commentary. Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi, whose film The Salesman took Best Foreign Language Film, boycotted the show in opposition to Trump's travel ban, labelling it an "inhumane law.
But this year was different. Gone were the passionate anti-Trump speeches. Instead, there was a subdued, even pragmatic tone. Hollywood, as with other sectors of American society, seemed to be getting used to the new political landscape that Trump's "revolution of common sense" had created.
The night's major winner was Anora, a Russian film that won five Oscars, including Best Picture. Russian actor Yura Borisov's Best Supporting Actor nomination, even though he did not get the award, was also a big deal in Moscow. For Russia, this was a welcome confirmation that its soft power still carries weight in the West, particularly after years of feeling boycotted after invading Ukraine in 2022.
This cultural moment at the Oscars reflects Trump’s warmer approach toward Russia. His policies on Ukraine, NATO, and Europe have been well received by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Even Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has praised Trump’s “policy of common sense,” calling it a step toward better relations between the two countries.
It's not only Russia, though. The Oscars have tended to reflect international politics. During the Cold War, Hollywood movies and awards were a mirror of the ideological struggle between the US and the Soviet Union. Consider Casablanca, the 1943 classic that took Best Picture. It wasn't merely a romance, it quietly promoted American values such as freedom and resistance, fitting in beautifully with the US war effort against fascism. Fast forward to the 1980s, and you have movies such as Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985), which was a cultural phenomenon. Though it wasn't an Oscar winner, Rambo resonated with the mood of the day by depicting a lone American hero fighting Soviet-backed forces in Vietnam. It was a frank manifestation of the Reagan-era patriotism and the US's anti-communist posture in the Cold War.
In recent years, the Oscars have begun to depict the emergence of Asia in global prominence. Parasite, under the direction of Bong Joon-ho, in 2020 broke history as it became the first non-English language film to take home the Best Picture award. It wasn't only a victory for South Korea, but it was one that depicted the way Asian movies were pushing barriers and being noticed globally. Then, in 2023, Everything Everywhere All at Once, a multiverse-hopping movie with an overwhelmingly Asian cast, swept the Oscars, winning seven awards, including Best Picture. These victories weren't only about honouring excellent films, they were a sign of Asia's increasing soft power in the 21st century.
This year's Oscars also highlighted the increasing prominence of the Middle East in international culture. For example, The Teacher, a Palestinian film, was nominated for Best International Feature, and Farha, a Jordanian film depicting the 1948 Palestinian exodus, initiated necessary discussions regarding history and identity. Although these films did not take home any awards, their nominations demonstrated that the Middle East is emerging as a larger force in world cinema. While the US is assuming the role of a "peacemaker" in the Middle East during the Trump administration, the Oscars can contribute to creating cultural bridges in a region where conflict has traditionally defined it.
This shift hasn’t been without controversy. Critics worry that Hollywood’s embrace of Russian cinema and its softer stance on Trump’s policies risk normalizing authoritarianism and undermining liberal values.
The Oscars’ recognition of Russian cinema also raises bigger questions about the role of art in geopolitics. Can something like the Oscars truly rise above political divisions, or are they always shaped by the world’s power struggles? The answer seems to be a bit of both. While the Oscars aim to celebrate artistic achievement, they can’t escape the influence of the times we live in.
As the world continues to navigate shifting alliances, rising nationalism, and the enduring power of culture, the Oscars will continue to be a prism through which to observe these changes. Whether honouring Russian cinema, Asian storytelling, or Middle Eastern voices, the Oscars remind us that the stories we tell on screen often reflect the times we live in.
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Picture courtesy: Website of euronews.com