By Kayla Cheung

Last night’s 93rd Academy Awards passed by with empty seats and a drama-less red carpet; though, not without an unprecedented amount of history-making wins in the form of films like Minari and Sound of Metal. For the first time ever, Asians dominated the Oscars nominations in categories that have always been geared toward the same white few. 

Asians and Asian-Americans made a large statement at the show with a total of six nominations — one of those contenders being filmmaker Chloé Zhao, 39, who took the Academy Award home for Best Director after her third indie film, Nomadland. The second female and as well the first woman of color to ever win an Oscar for Best Director, Zhao serves as an exemplary role model for directors and has changed the game for people with a minority background.

She’s not the only woman who left a historical impact. Youn Yuh-Jung took an Oscar home for best supporting actress for the indie film Minari. She is the first Korean Best Supporting Actress, and at 74 years old, is not so much younger than the Oscars themselves. Her career spans over half a century, with her debut in 1971’s Woman of Fire. 

With every polarized development, it becomes more clear that change is a double-edged sword. 

Minari represents the story of a family’s sudden cross-country move in that fashion. Director Lee Isaac Chung brought alive the conflicts and joys of searching for a new life in America, complete with the conflicts-of-interest associated with wanting to find the “American Dream,” and remain true to one’s native roots. His storytelling expands on the cultural divisions presented in the United States as they pertain to a low-income Korean-American family, but the relatable themes of alienation, acclamation, and hard work.

However, the rushed incompleteness of these Oscars is not to be dismissed. Without the crowded A-list celebrity seating and an equally crowded, photobomb-heavy red carpet, the pre-show was relatively uneventful. The theatre and station were equally unenergetic. The gusto that celebrities display at the awards show was nowhere to be found, but upon the entrance of young Alan S. Kim (Minari), the red carpet turned vivacious with adorable shimmies and awe-striking dance moves from the young star. He, too, left a memorial impression last night. 

The abundance of Asian representation in nominations was, without a doubt, an unexpected but welcome feat for the 93rd Academy Awards that challenges the current-day issue of anti-Asian sentiments. Reflecting a greater deal of diversity, these individuals redefined the film industry and what lies beyond.