“Ladies, don’t let anybody ever tell you that you are ever past your prime,” said Michelle Yeoh, 60, as she accepted the Oscar for Actress in a Leading Role. “Never give up.” The second woman of color and first ever Asian to win this award, Yeoh is blazing a trail for Asians everywhere and making her hometown, Malaysia, proud. At the 95th Academy Awards, A24’s Everything Everywhere All At Once brought home seven gold statues, including trophies for Best Picture, Actress in a Supporting Role, Actor in a Supporting Role, and Best Director.
For Ke Huy Quan, who won Best Supporting Actor, this award is truly special. “My journey started on a boat. I spent a year in a refugee camp and somehow I ended up here on Hollywood’s biggest stage. They say stories like this only happen in the movies…this is the American Dream.” Quan’s role as Waymond Wang marked his return from his 20-year acting hiatus.
Also making an astonishing comeback that night was Brendan Fraser, who accepted the award for Best Leading Actor with shaking hands and teary eyes. “So this is what the multiverse looks like,” he said. After suffering from depression, sexual assault, and multiple health problems, Fraser’s role as Charlie in A24’s The Whale was his return to the big screen after several years.
All in all, Everything Everywhere All At Once won seven awards, while the foreign film All Quiet on the Western Front won four. The former is a win for Asians everywhere, representing the quiet power of being an immigrant in so many different worlds, and finally finding your place in each one. March 12 was truly a special night, and signified a plethora of historic moments that will spur a future of diverse, lovingly-crafted films.
Naomi Ko '24 is a Vol. 71 Managing Editor