'Sentimental Value' beats Catalan co-production 'Sirat' and claims Oscar for 'Best International Film'

The Oscar award for 'Best International Film' went to Norwegian 'Sentimental Value,' directed by Joachim Trier, leaving Catalan co-production 'Sirāt,' by Oliver Laxe, without the statuette. 

Also nominated in the category for 'Best Sound,' Catalan 'Sirāt' left the awards empty-handed. 

Trier's film had already prevailed over 'Sirāt' earlier in the awards season. It secured the 'Best Non-English Language Film' at the BAFTA Awards and also beat Laxe's film at the European Film Awards, where it took home the price for 'Best Film,' 'Best Screenplay,' 'Best Director,' and 'Best Actor.'

'Sentimental Value' features Renate Reinsve, Elle Fanning, Stellan Skarsgård, and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – following the sisters Nora and Agnes as they reconnect with their estranged father.

Despite the Oscar setback, 'Sirāt' has enjoyed a strong awards season. The film won five technical prizes at the European Film Awards for Sound, Production Design, Casting, Editing, and Cinematography, and collected eight awards at Catalonia's Gaudí Awards and six at Spain's Goya Awards.

'Sirāt' follows the journey of a father and his son searching for his missing daughter among rave parties in the mountains of Morocco.

After the ceremony, Laxe congratulated Joachim Trier on his victory.

"I am happy for him, very happy. He is an exquisite man, a great filmmaker, and he deserves it," Laxe told reporters.

'Sirāt' misses out on Best Sound

The Catalan co-production was not only nominated for 'Best International Film,' but also for 'Best Sound,' an award they lost to American 'F1' directed by Joseph Kosinski.

Sound engineers Laia Casanovas, Amanda Villavieja, and Yasmina Praderas, told the Catalan News Agency (ACN) before the ceremony that simply being nominated already represented a milestone.

Laxe, on the other hand, admitted he had hoped 'Sirāt' might win the sound award but acknowledged the strength of the competition.

"We were competing against Apple," he said, referring to the production company behind 'F1.' "But even competing with a film like that is already an achievement."

The big winners

The ceremony, hosted by Conan O'Brien, saw Paul Thomas Anderson's 'A Battle of Our Own,' starring Leonardo DiCaprio, dominate the night, taking home six awards, including 'Best Director,' 'Best Adapted Screenplay,' and 'Best Picture.'

Michael B. Jordan won 'Best Actor' for his role in 'The Sinner,' which earned a total of four awards, while Jessie Buckley was named 'Best Actress' for her performance in 'Hamnet.'

Director praises anti-war stance 

Wearing a watermelon-shaped pin as a symbol of solidarity with the Palestinian people, Laxe praised the 'Best International Film' presenter Javier Bardem's call for "no to war and free Palestine." 

"Bravo, I thought it was incredible. The way he stood his ground – that is what it means to be an actor. He turned heads at the gala."