‘The Good Boss,’ Blanchett, Bardem star in return of Goya Awards
By Alicia G. Arribas
Valencia, Spain, Feb 13 (EFE).- It was the night of “The Good Boss,” but also the night of the return of the black and white dresses, of the red tuxedos with names embroidered on the back, and of Hollywood star Cate Blanchett and her brand new award.
It was an almost normal 36th Goya Film Awards gala night on Saturday. Almost, but not quite, due to the masks, the vaccination certificates and the alcohol gel strategically placed in the busiest corners of the Palau de les Arts in the Spanish city of Valencia.
“Today is the reunion gala. Thank you very much for letting us continue in your lives,” said Spanish actress Carmen Machi in a speech that kicked off the party.
A few meters from the entrance, hundreds of fans could finally take photos with the stars again.
After the 2021 gala in Malaga, held without an audience and with the nominations announced online due to the pandemic, the 2022 gala brought back the public, joy and “pandemic hugs,” as Javier Bardem calls them.
An exultant Bardem posed with the other Spaniards who, like him, are nominated for an Oscar this year: Penélope Cruz, Alberto Iglesias and Alberto Mielgo, marking another historic moment for these Goyas.
And even more so when Bardem, who was already the Spanish actor with the most Goya awards, took away six. Again, for a film by Fernando León de Aranoa (“The Good Boss”) after achieving the same feat with “Mondays in the Sun” (2002).
“The Good Boss” was the star of the night, taking home six big prizes of the 20 for which it was nominated.
Cate Blanchett, who accepted the first-ever International Goya, said she hopes Cruz wins the best actress Oscar for “Parallel Mothers.”
“You deserve it,” she told her, seconds after praising the talent of Pedro Almodóvar.
Blanchett said she had been influenced by the work of Almodovar whose first English-language movie features the Australian actress.
The surprise of the night was that Almodóvar’s film did not win any of the eight awards for which it was nominated.
At the other extreme, “The Laws of the Border,” a contender in six categories, won five. EFE
aga/tw/ia
