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Mexicans Triumph at the Academy Awards

Categories: Latin America, Mexico, U.S.A., Citizen Media, Film, Good News
Foto de Disney | ABC Television Group en Flickr bajo licencia Creative Commons (CC BY-ND 2.0) [1]

Alfonso Cuarón won an Oscar for best director. Photo from Disney | ABC Television Group on Flickr under a Creative Commons license (CC BY-ND 2.0)

The night of March 2, 2014 brought good news to the Mexicans Alfonso Cuarón [2] and Emmanuel Lubezki [3] -alias “Chivo” (Goat)- who were recognized at the Academy Awards for their work in the movie Gravity.

It is worth noting that the film is not a Mexican production, but rather British – American [4], and it even won several BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts [5]) awards.

Since January of this year, Cuarón's nomination caused several reactions among Mexican viewers [6]. At the end, Gravity got seven statuettes. Cuarón received the award for best director from Angelina Jolie [7] and Sidney Poitier [8] and was also recognized for this work as editor of the same movie. Also, Lubezki received the award for best photography.

Reactions on Twitter were fast and varied. User Alex pointed out the following in relation to the current situation of filmmaking in Mexico and linking it to the Latin pop singer Juan Gabriel [9]:

last comment of the night: Cuarón's Oscar is not for the Mexican movie industry, Mexican filmmakers keep making movies with Juan Gabriel.

For Agustín Basave the awards don't belong to Mexico, but according to him, they do belong to the Mexican people:  

I know Chivo's and Cuarón's Oscars are not Mexico's, but honestly I don't give a damn: a piece of them is for every Mexican.

Netizen Weed Brownie questioned this way the Academy's decisions:

Damn it, what the hell is going on? Gravity people bought the nominations or what? They are taking home everything.

In response to those who didn't celebrate the Mexicans’ accomplishment at the Academy Awards, user Alessia said:  

At the Oscar's hangover, it is worth asking why the complex, why do people insist in minimizing Lubezki's and Cuarón's achievement?

Later, the same user added:

I say it because I've read many negative comments like the fact that Cuarón doesn't live in Mexico or that the awards were “fixed”. #Envidia (Envy)

About the criticism over “Chivo” Lubezki, user blurred9 reminded netizens that Gravity is not the first movie he has worked on and that there are several other examples in his outstanding career:  

Each time you want to criticize Lubezki think of the light scene at the fountain in Great Expectations and shut up.

Journalist León Krauze said this about Alfonso Cuarón:

A universal Mexican. In every sense of the word.

Also, president Enrique Peña Nieto congratulated the winning filmmakers:  

Congratulations to the Mexicans who won an Oscar; they are part of a prominent generation of Mexican filmmakers.

The Mexican movies where Cuarón and Lubezki have worked together are Y Tu Mamá También [23] (And Your Mother Too) and Sólo Con Tu Pareja [24] (Only With Your Partner). As for international films, Cuarón is known for his work in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban [25], while Lubezki had already been nominated to the Oscar in several occasions, including The Tree of Life [26]