Norwegian Director Joachim Trier Used His Oscar Win To Call Out Politicians Causing Harm To Children In Palestine, Ukraine And Sudan
"All adults are responsible for all children, and let's not vote for politicians who don't take this seriously into account.”
Danish-Norwegian filmmaker Joachim Trier has won Norway’s first Oscar for Best International Feature Film and used his win to call out politicians who ignore the suffering of children.
Trier won the Best International Feature Film award at the 98th Academy Awards on March 15 for his film “Sentimental Value” a family drama about two adult sisters who reconnect with their estranged father, a once-celebrated film director trying to make his comeback.
In his speech, Trier thanked his cast and crew, describing the production as a deeply collaborative effort.
"This film is about a very dysfunctional family," he said. "And it's the opposite of what I felt with this beautiful group behind me."
He then closed with a political message, invoking the American writer James Baldwin, saying. "all adults are responsible for all children, and let's not vote for politicians who don't take this seriously into account.”
Backstage, Trier said that what he meant by his message is that adults bear responsibility for children, especially as we are living in times where children are the most affected, especially in conflicts, including in Palestine, Ukraine and Sudan.
He said the current moment reminded him of his own family history as his grandfather was a resistance fighter imprisoned during World War II, according to WJBF.
"We've seen Palestinian children suffer, children from Ukraine suffer, and children from Sudan suffer, and there doesn't seem to be any accountability at the moment," he said.
Trier is best known internationally for his “The Worst Person in the World,” a 2021 Norwegian drama that was nominated for Best International Feature Film and Best Original Screenplay at the 2022 Oscars.
His latest work, “Sentimental Value”received multiple Oscar nominations, including Best International Feature and marked Trier’s first nomination for Best Director.
The award was presented by Indian actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Spanish actor Javier Bardem, who opened with his own political statement, saying "No to war and free Palestine."
The category also included a nomination for “The **Voice of Hind Rajab,” a film based on the true story of Israeli forces’ killing of six-year-old Palestinian girl Hind Rajab in Gaza.
“Sentimental Value” became the first Norwegian production to win the Best International Feature Film category, after seven earlier nominations from the country in previous years.
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