Bafta 2019: sacred “Roma” and “La Favorite”, new award for Rami Malek

‘Roma’, a Netflix production, triumphed on Sunday at the British cinema awards (Bafta) by winning the awards for best film and best director (Alfonso Cuaron), a confirmation of the essential place that the American giant now occupies in the cinema.

Several times awarded for series in recent years, Netflix had never signed such a resounding double at the Bafta. Enough to whet the appetite of the video platform to 130 million users before the Oscars, “Roma” with ten nominations for the ceremony scheduled for February 24 in Hollywood.

For the Bafta for best director , the Mexican Alfonso Cuaron won in particular ahead of Spike Lee (“BlacKkKlansman”), Yorgos Lanthimos (“The Favorite”) and Bradley Cooper (“A Star Is Born)”. In “Roma”, shot in Spanish and black and white, Cuaron, Oscar winner for “Gravity” in 2014 , depicts his childhood in a neighborhood in Mexico City in the 1970s. The film, who has already received two Golden Globes , also won in the best film in a foreign language and best photography categories. “I am overwhelmed by the reception this film has received,” said Alfonso Cuaron, “congratulated” on Twitter by Netflix.

Nice harvest for “La Favorite”

Organized at the Royal Albert Hall, the evening was also a success for the period film “The Favorite”, which, failing the prize for best film, collected a nice harvest of awards: best British film, best sets, best Makeup and Hairstyle, Best Supporting Actress (Rachel Weisz), Best Original Screenplay, and, most importantly, best actress , a Bafta attributed to Olivia Colman for her portrayal of Queen Anne.

Oscar nominated and Golden Globe winner for the role, the 45-year-old British actress edged out Glenn Close (“The Wife”) and Lady Gaga (“A Star Is Born”), among others. Sovereign sometimes all-powerful, sometimes miserable, Olivia Colman flies over this dramatic comedy taking place in 18th century England, where a confidante and a courtesan compete for favors.

Lady Gaga triumphs in music

On the men’s side, American actor Rami Malek, 37, received the Bafta for best actor for his interpretation of Freddie Mercury, the singer of Queen, in “Bohemian Rhapsody” . “When I started to prepare for the role of Freddie Mercury, I wondered if I was going to be up to it. It’s a huge responsibility, but a responsibility I was eager to take on,” he said. -he declares.

Shadow on the board for “Bohemian Rhapsody”, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta) had suspended the nomination of its director, Bryan Singer, following accusations of sexual assault reported by the magazine The Atlantic, which he denies.

“Roma” and “La Favorite” ultimately left nothing but crumbs for their direct competitors. “A Star Is Born”, on the rise of a young singer interpreted by Lady Gaga, will have to be consoled with the original music Bafta , “BlacKkKlansman” with that of the adapted screenplay, and “Vice” with that of the edit.

“Free Solo”, best documentary

In the animated film category, the British academy awarded “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” , in which a new black and Latino spider-man takes center stage against a Peter Parker confined to a role of mentor.

The Bafta for best documentary went to “Free Solo”. The film chronicles Alex Honnold’s spectacular rope-free ascent of El Capitan, a granite wall in Yosemite Natural Park in California, a first that fascinated the climbing world and gave the production crew a cold sweat. “One of the reasons the movie is so great is because I had so much faith in the filmmakers to tell the story. I was able to focus on exactly what I needed to do to make that climb. “, reacted Alex Honnold.

Guyanese Letitia Wright, 25, won the Rising Star Bafta (the only one awarded by the public) for her role as Shuri, sister of the superhero in “Black Panther” , in the film of the same name, also winner of the prize for best visual effects. Particularly moved, the young actress confided to having failed, a few years ago, to stop her career, and to thank “God” and his “family”.