Zhao’s Oscar victory for directing „Nomadland“ should be celebrated, a film critic told the Global Times, but the social issues it highlights may not capture Chinese moviegoers.
The Chinese government isn’t celebrating Chloé Zhao’s victorious night at the Oscars and while her success may inspire people in China, a film critic said moviegoers may not relate to her film Nomadland. Zhao, a Beijing-born filmmaker, became the first woman of color and first Chinese woman to win the Academy Award for best director on Sunday night. China didn’t broadcast the awards and Weibo, a popular social media app in China, appeared to be deleting posts championing the win for Zhao, who made controversial comments about China in 2013. Shi Wenxue, a Beijing-based film critic, told the Global Times, a state-run media outlet, Zhao’s best director win highlighted the Oscars‘ „political correctness.“ Since the film speaks to social issues in the United States, Shi said it may „fail to capture the interest of Chinese moviegoers.“ Nomadland stars Frances McDormand, who plays Fern, a woman in her 60s who loses everything in 2011. Living in a van as a modern-day nomad, she travels through the American West, taking on different jobs as she meets other nomads.
