Chapter 447: Process 3

Chapter 447: Chapter 447: Process 3

Following closely behind, the Best Supporting Actor award likewise held no surprises at all.

The ultimate winner was Clive Owen, who broke through himself and subverted his image in "Closer," vividly portraying a complex, contradictory, deeply affectionate yet paranoid male character.

With effortless emotional control and full dramatic tension, his delicate and highly layered performance won widespread recognition from American film critics and Academy judges, steadily securing this Best Supporting Actor trophy.

Watching Clive Owen accept the award on stage, a trace of faint regret and disappointment flashed across the eyes of Heath Ledger and Jack Gyllenhaal beside him, yet there was no unwillingness.

Both of them knew clearly in their hearts that although their performances had highlights, compared to the senior’s solid foundation and character depth, gaps still existed.

Being nominated this time was already a tremendous recognition, as well as the most precious experience and paving stone of their careers.

Irene turned her head to look at the two of them, gently raising her hand to pat their shoulders, silently giving comfort and affirmation.

The stunning performances on screen had long been seen by everyone; a loss at the Oscar was never a negation, but rather the prelude to reaching the summit in the future.

She always firmly believed that the path ahead for these two young actors was destined to be broad and brilliant.

After all the performance-related awards were settled, the atmosphere inside the venue eased slightly, and the ceremony smoothly entered the warm segment of lifetime achievement honours.

Compared to the fiercely competitive and suspenseful competitive awards, honorary awards carried more of the meaning of industry tribute and generational inheritance, with an atmosphere that was gentle, solemn, healing, and lingering.

This year’s Oscar awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award to legendary director Sidney Lumet.

Sidney Lumet had deeply cultivated the film industry for decades, directing countless classic masterpieces.

With a unique style and profound conceptions, he promoted the development of Hollywood film art with a lifetime of love and perseverance, influencing generation after generation of film and television creators.

This lifetime honour was the industry’s highest tribute to his lifelong artistic pursuit.

The Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award presented subsequently was won by Ron Meyer, used to recognise his outstanding contributions over the years in the fields of public welfare, industry support, and talent assistance in the film and television industry, which was Hollywood’s highest recognition of practitioners’ character and responsibility.

The two honorary award segments were warm and solemn, with the big screen playing career silhouettes and classic works of the two legendary seniors in turn.

All the filmmakers in attendance stood up to pay their respects, and the applause was endless, paying tribute to the seniors, perseverance, and a lifetime of light and shadow.

As the warm tribute segment concluded, the lighting inside the venue instantly shifted from soft warm light to brilliant spotlights, and the atmosphere of the entire audience suddenly tightened.

The two most heavyweight, most finale, and most heart-string-pulling awards of the entire ceremony officially opened the curtain for announcement — Best Director, Best Picture.

The surrounding air seemed to instantly freeze, and thousands of filmmakers in the audience held their breath and concentrated.

Hundreds of millions of viewers across the entire network closely watched the screens; no one spoke or was distracted, and all gazes gathered entirely on the centre of the stage, waiting for the final suspense to be unveiled.

Ang Lee, who had previously been able to maintain a relaxed state, completely fell into extreme tension at this moment.

He sat upright in his seat, his body subconsciously leaning forward slightly, his ten fingers tightly interlocked, his knuckles turning slightly white, unable to hide the intense apprehension and anticipation deep in his eyes.

From preparing the script and polishing the narrative, to travelling far to the wilderness for location scouting and leading the crew through scorching heat and bitter cold for filming, to the later stage of repeated editing, colour grading, and scoring, stumbling all the way and persevering through precipitation, all his painstaking efforts were poured into the work Brokeback Mountain.

This was the closest he had ever been to an Oscar Best Director, and it was also the most heavyweight and confident sprint of his career.

Having been nominated multiple times in the past and regrettably running alongside others multiple times, all the unwillingness and expectations were condensed into tonight’s final result.

Irene clearly felt the tension and anxiety of Ang Lee beside her.

She turned her head slightly once more, raised her hand to gently pat Ang Lee’s arm, her gaze resolute and gentle, silently conveying trust and confidence.

As a person who experienced rebirth, she knew the impact of this work best, and she understood Ang Lee’s dedication and talent most clearly.

In her heart, this Best Director trophy would belong to no one else but him.

Amidst the extreme silence and anticipation of the audience, the award presenter steadily stepped onto the stage, opened the golden envelope carrying the final suspense, and in a loud and clear voice that pierced through the quiet air of the entire venue, slowly read out the final answer: "The 77th Academy Awards Best Director — Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain!"

The moment the voice fell, the entire venue instantly erupted!

Thunderous applause, cheers, and acclaim suddenly burst forth, sweeping across the entire Kodak Theatre, with a mighty momentum that lingered long.

Countless filmmakers stood up and applauded, paying tribute to this Chinese director who broke through social circles and barriers, shocking Hollywood with gentle power.

Ang Lee was completely stunned for a moment, his eyes filled with unbelievable emotion and ecstasy.

The tension and apprehension that had been suppressed for a long time completely dissipated, replaced by burning hot tears and relief.

He stood up abruptly, turned his head, and tightly hugged Irene beside him.

This embrace was gratitude for fighting side by side, relief from years of perseverance, and a two-way achievement that spanned mountains and seas.

Irene smiled and hugged him back tightly, saying softly: "Congratulations, you deserve all the glory."

This simple sentence made the hot tears in Ang Lee’s eyes completely slide down.

He quickly tidied up his emotions, raised his hand to wipe the dampness at the corners of his eyes, and walked step by step onto the stage with firm steps and an upright posture, heading towards his supreme glory.

Standing in the centre of the world-attracting Oscar stage, with spotlights completely enveloping him, facing world-class filmmakers and hundreds of millions of viewers broadcasting globally, Ang Lee calmly accepted the heavy Oscar statuette trophy, with a humble posture and sincere gaze, opening a unique bilingual acceptance speech.

He first used fluent and steady English to sincerely thank all the partners and guides who had accompanied him along the way.

After finishing the English thank-yous, he paused slightly, tender emotions of his homeland welling up in his eyes, and instead used warm and standard Chinese to continue expressing the deepest gratitude and perseverance in his heart.

His voice was sincere and powerful, transmitting through the live broadcast screen to every corner of the globe, bringing countless Chinese viewers to tears:

"Thank you everyone.

First of all, thank the Academy for giving me this special honour.

This honour belongs to every member of the Brokeback Mountain crew.

Thank you Irene; it was her meticulous polishing that gave this gentle yet regretful story the power to pierce through time and shock the world."

"Films have no borders, and light and shadow warm people’s hearts.

For many years, I have always adhered to my original intention, wanting to use the lens to tell the purest humanity and emotions, and using film and television art to convey inclusion and gentleness.

Today’s recognition is the greatest encouragement and gift of my career."

"At the same time, I also want to thank my homeland and all the viewers who support me.

As a Chinese-language director, I have always firmly believed that sincere stories can move the whole world, and delicate emotions can cross all mountains, seas, and barriers.

In the future, I will still maintain humility and love, deeply cultivating light and shadow, living up to my original intention and love.

Thank you everyone."

The bilingual speech was sincere and unpretentious, without any pile-up of fancy rhetoric, yet every word was heartfelt and every sentence touching.

It possessed both the calmness of an international vision and the gentleness of homeland sentiment, instantly moving all viewers in the audience.

Applause swept the venue once more, refusing to stop for a long time.

Ang Lee bowed in thanks and slowly walked down the stage, his eyes filled with relief and brilliant light.

The Best Director glory belonging to him was well-deserved and concluded successfully.

And tonight’s peak highlight was far from over.