This year’s Oscar nominations have reflected the Academy’s efforts to be more inclusive. Out of a total of 20 acting nominations, seven of them this year have gone to nonwhite actors. This change can be attributed to the Academy’s leader, President Cheryl Boon Isaacs, who has diversified the ranks so that a greater variety of films are taken into consideration.
Nonetheless, the nominations are still lacking in certain demographics. Despite an increasing amount of Hollywood ticket sales coming from Asia, there are still very few Asian films represented, even under the Foreign Language Film categories.
Here are eight Asian nominees that should have been in the Oscars. Hopefully next year, we will see an even more faithful representation of films from across the globe.
Best Picture – The Kid from the Big Apple (我来自纽约)
“The Kid from the Big Apple (我来自纽约)” was an absolute tearjerker. Even beyond its emotional resonance, the film covered so many universal themes, like the generation gap, parent-child relationships, and the importance of family. Coupled with intricate character development, “The Kid from the Big Apple (我来自纽约)” was one of the most underrated films of 2017.
Actor in a Leading Role – Gong Yoo, Train to Busan
Actress in a Leading Role – Tan Qin Lin, The Kid from the Big Apple
Actor in a Supporting Role – Hisashi Yoshiwaza, I Am a Hero
Iura was an unnerving antagonist in the Japanese zombie movie “I Am a Hero”. He exuded Oedipal vibes from his first appearance, and his softspoken demeanour was a huge contrast from his violent actions. Even his childish outfit signalled to us that he was driven by perverse parental issues. The irony was that he was probably more depraved than any zombie in the film.
Animated Feature Film – Your Name
Cinematography – The Handmaiden
Documentary (Feature) – Tsukiji Wonderland
Costume Design – The Age of Shadows
Finally, the Korean period piece “The Age of Shadows” truly immersed us in an era that is long gone. Its attention to detail and its acknowledgement of the East-West fusion of attire was one of the many highlights in an already excellent film.
Were any Asian masterpieces left out? Leave a comment with your picks for the Oscars.
This article was also published on Yahoo!.
Marcus Goh is a Singapore television scriptwriter. He’s also a Transformers enthusiast and avid pop culture scholar. He Tweets/Instagrams at Optimarcus and writes at marcusgohmarcusgoh.com.
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