'Everything...' Triumphs at the Oscars with 7 Wins Including Best Picture

Major Trophies Swept Including Best Picture, Director, and Best Actress
"As Always, We Will Make Our Lives Different"
Best Actor Award Goes to Brandon Fraser for 'The Whale'

A duo who studied together in college and created videos has made a mark with their second feature film. It is "Everything Everywhere All at Once (Everything)" directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert. This year, it won seven Oscars, including Best Picture.

"Everything" received Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing at the 95th Academy Awards held on the 12th (local time) at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles (LA), USA. The film weaves the story of a Chinese immigrant woman running a laundromat who saves the world into a multiverse narrative. It questions the meaning of meaningless human existence through infinite worlds. It also reveals the realistic hardships and generational conflicts experienced by an Asian American family. Its ingenious imagination brought to life on screen has drawn global attention in the film industry.

"Everything" swept all awards given by Hollywood's four major guilds?Directors Guild, Producers Guild, Actors Guild, and Writers Guild?and was early on classified as a strong contender for the Oscar Best Picture. All films that have swept the four major Hollywood guild awards have won the Oscar Best Picture. These include "Argo," "No Country for Old Men," "Slumdog Millionaire," and "American Beauty." There was no upset. "Everything" swept seven of the ten categories in which it was nominated.

Director Kwan self-assessed that the thematic consciousness demanding change in our lives was effective. Upon going on stage, he said, "The world is still rapidly changing, but sometimes our stories can't keep up with the pace. Interest in films is also changing rapidly, sometimes feeling frightening," but added, "Stories told through films like this will continue to change our lives as they have so far." He continued, "It is not normal for us to receive such awards. I urge you not to try to conform to standards." Director Scheinert recalled his mother. "Whenever I made strange films, she supported me and helped nurture my creativity," he expressed gratitude.

"Everything" could not have been completed without the performance of Liang Ziqiong, better known domestically as Yang Ziqiang. She is a first-generation immigrant who came to the U.S. dreaming of the "American Dream" and played Evelyn, who runs a laundromat. In the real world, she has conflicts with her lesbian daughter (Stephanie Hsu) and fights against the villainous grandfather Jobu Tupaki who seeks to destroy the world in the multiverse. Liang Ziqiong vividly portrayed Evelyn's various facets and became the first Asian actress to win Best Actress. She said, "I dedicate this award to my mother and all the mothers of the world. They are the real heroes."

Ki Hoi Kwan, who acted alongside Liang Ziqiong as her spouse, won Best Supporting Actor. Having appeared as a child actor in the second "Indiana Jones" film, he experienced a second heyday through "Everything." Ki Hoi Kwan was moved to tears upon receiving the trophy. He said, "After a long journey, I have come to such a big stage. People say stories like this only appear in movies, but I think this is the 'American Dream'." He experienced refugee life during the Vietnam War as a child.

Jamie Lee Curtis, who played IRS agent Deirdre in "Everything," won Best Supporting Actress. Known as the "Horror Queen" for starring in the "Halloween" series and others, she received her first Oscar trophy and emphasized, "I am accepting this award together with the thousands of people who made the film."

Best Actor went to Brandon Fraser for "The Whale." "The Whale" is a work depicting the life of Charlie, a college instructor who became a 272 kg giant after neglecting and abusing himself following the death of his lover. It delicately portrays his reunion with his teenage daughter after nine years and writing his final essay. Fraser gained great popularity in the 1990s with appearances in films like "The Mummy," but suffered from surgery, sexual assault, and divorce. However, he succeeded in his comeback by enduring nearly four hours of special makeup daily to play Charlie.

Netflix's film "All Quiet on the Western Front" won four awards including Cinematography, Production Design, Music, and International Feature Film. Adapted Screenplay went to "Women Talking," Costume Design to "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," Makeup to "The Whale," Visual Effects to "Avatar: The Way of Water," Original Song to "Naatu Naatu (RRR: Rise Roar Revolt)," and Sound to "Top Gun: Maverick." Best Feature and Short Animated Films were awarded to "Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio" and "The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse," respectively. Short Film went to "An Irish Goodbye," Feature Documentary to "Navalny," and Short Documentary to "The Elephant and the Elderly Couple."