“Everything Everywhere All At Once” co-director Daniel Kwan is kindly requesting that fans of the film “be gracious and kind” if things don’t go their way at the Oscars on Sunday.
“I love every one of the films we are up against for different reasons,” Kwan wrote on Saturday in a Twitter thread marking the one year anniversary of the “Everything Everywhere” premiere at SXSW.
“More importantly, I have grown to love the people behind each of the films as I have gotten to know them this year. I already have everything I could ever want, and there is no need to be angry on our behalf.”
“Everything Everywhere” is an extraordinary sci-fi epic that tells the story of a struggling Chinese-American immigrant who discovers that she must travel through parallel universes in order to prevent a powerful being from destroying the entire multiverse. Starring Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan and Jamie Lee Curtis, the film blends comedy and drama, and has been lauded as a triumph for Asian representation in Hollywood.
Directed by Kwan and Daniel Scheinert — a duo known as The Daniels — the critically-acclaimed film racked up a hefty 11 Academy Award nominations, and is widely considered the front-runner for Best Picture.
Over the past year, the film has also attracted an army of devoted fans, some of whom have taken it upon themselves to attack critics or publications who did not appreciate the film. In December, Kwan addressed his overzealous fans on Twitter.
“I know for many, this story and characters mean a lot so any slight towards the film feels like a personal attack,” he wrote “but lashing out does everyone a disservice.”
In a time of social media, award shows face intense scrutiny, especially major events like the Oscars, which have historically overlooked contributions from non-white creators. Just last month, the Grammys was hit with a mountain of backlash after Harry Styles won Album of the Year over Beyoncé́, who was the clear front-runner.
Last week, Michelle Yeoh created controversy by sharing an article that highlights a historic lack of representation at the Academy Awards on her Instagram. The piece, titled “It’s Been Over Two Decades Since We’ve Had a Non-White Best Actress Winner. Will that change in 2023,” Yeoh and her main competitor, Cate Blanchett, by name, which some argue goes against an Academy policy on referencing other nominees online.
For many viewers, though, complaining about the Oscars is half of the fun. Sunday’s event will almost certainly generate controversy of some sort.
Still, Kwan’s message to his fans is simple: let’s avoid turning the conversation toxic.
“No movie deserves to sweep, no matter how good it is, and I am rooting whole heartedly for my fellow nominees. Thank you for coming along with me on this wild ride, all of your support has meant the world to me,” he wrote.
“P.S. to the people who hate the film with their entire being: I’m sorry we ruined cinema for you forever. I hope we can make it up to you on the next one <3”
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. If you do not yet have a Torstar account, you can create one now (it is free)
does not endorse these opinions.
