by Elizabeth Lemuz
I didn't get the opportunity to watch the Oscars this past weekend, but I have been able to see on social media how it all went down! Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu is the director of 'Birdman' a movie about a washed-up actor who is trying to find himself while beginning his broadway career. I personally didn't even know this was an existing movie until it won three recognitions at the Oscars.
I have heard many reviews about the movie and how there were better movies that should have won best picture instead of 'Birman'. It won the most important recognition of "Best Picture". The New York Times wrote an article about this event, but I was disappointed that I wasn't able to watch this moment on live tv. There were many videos shared on Facebook with Iñarritu's final speech where he gives special recognition to Mexicans living in Mexico. I thought it was a meaningful speech and I was then upset that I missed such a great speech. It is hard to find that actual speech and I'm not sure why it is, but I found a part of it that you can watch here.
It is exciting to see that a man such as Iñarritu who won three recognitions was able to take the time to dedicate his award to "his fellow Mexicans" at an award show that is about the American film industry. There are many hispanics that don't give such recognition and when someone does a thing like this it is a proud moment.
I'm not big on giving importance on these things because I have been surrounded by so much segregation that isn't physically a thing but you can easily distinguish when you are being singled out because you are of hispanic heritage. I had to grow up with a lot of this all of my life and I still do. There was a comment from Sean Penn when presenting the award to Iñarritu that caused social media to explode with comments after this. The Washington Post discusses this event and the reaction of Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu as well, and Iñarritu took it as a joke. I didn't pay much attention to the remark he made because we are in the 21st century now and we have all been surrounded by comments like these but I also didn't think that Penn meant it in a racist way. It seems like Penn is pretty comfortable enough to joke like this with Iñarritu, but I do understand how many others that are strong in their opinions would have seen it as bad.
It's hard in this society to mention things like what was shared at this years Oscar awards. I commend Iñarritu for speaking up and giving recognition to Mexican's and I think Penn's comment shouldn't have been taken so directly.
Citations:
"'Birdman' Captures Best Picture at Oscar." The New York Times. The New York Times Company, 2015. Web. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/23/arts/birdman-wins-best-picture-at-oscars-2015.html
"For some, Sean Penn's 'green card' moment served as confirmation of #OscarsSoWhite." The Washington Post. The Washington Post, 2015. Web. http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/02/23/for-some-sean-penns-green-card-moment-served-as-confirmation-of-oscarssowhite/
TeleSUR English. "González Iñárritu hopes for better government in Mexico." Online Video Clip. YouTube. YouTube, 23 Feb. 2015. Web. 27 Feb. 2015.
