Iran's Farhadi, Absent at Oscars, Pleads for Empathy in Win
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All the stars came out Sunday night for the 89th Academy Awards. Watch a round up of all the top Oscar winners.
A political context larger than that of films themselves swept Iran's "The Salesman" into the limelight and effectively solidified its win in the best foreign language category at the Oscars on Sunday. Iranian astronaut Anousheh Ansari accepted the award on behalf of director Asghar Farhadi, who was absent from the ceremony in protest of Donald Trump's travel ban.
"I'm sorry I'm not with you tonight," Ansari read in a statement. "My absence is out of respect for the people of my country and those of other six nations who have been disrespected by the inhumane law that bans entry of immigrants to the U.S."
Firouz Naderi, a former NASA director, and an Iranian, stood beside Ansari as she read Farhadi's words.
Taraji P. Henson, Viola Davis and Emma Roberts
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Charlize Theron arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
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Viola Davis arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
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Janelle Monae attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Meryl Streep attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Chris Evans, left, and Jeremy Renner arrive at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Dev Patel, left, and Anita Patel arrive at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Actors Jackie Chan, left, and Taraji P. Henson greet each other at the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Jessica Biel attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Octavia Spencer attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Kirsten Dunst attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Halle Berry attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Model Chrissy Teigen attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
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Nicole Kidman attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb.26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Ryan Gosling arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Scarlett Johansson attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
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Actor Alicia Vikander attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
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Actors Michelle Williams, left, and Busy Philipps attend the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Producers Pharrell Williams, left, and Mimi Valdes attend the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
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Brie Larson arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Susan Geston, left, and Jeff Bridges arrive at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
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Dakota Johnson arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
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Hailee Steinfeld arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
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Taraji P. Henson attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Karlie Kloss attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Emma Roberts attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
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Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck presents Oscars cuisine before the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Luz Towns-Miranda, left, and Lin-Manuel Miranda arrive at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Sofia Boutella attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Isabelle Huppert attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Auli'i Cravalho attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Olivia Culpo unveils a one-of-a-kind Marchesa for Stella Artois gown during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Sofia Carson attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Ruth Negga attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Cynthia Erivo attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on Feb. 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Jackie Chan arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles with his "date" - two stuffed pandas.
It's the second Oscar for director Farhadi, and Iran, who previously won in the same category for "A Separation" in 2012, but the context surrounding this win is stunningly different.
Farhadi's film, about a couple performing Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman," was barely even in the conversation a few months ago, overshadowed by Maren Ade's popular German comedy "Toni Erdmann," but became a rallying cry for immigrant rights after President Donald Trump's seven country travel ban.
The ban not only led to Farhadi announcing that he would not attend the awards in protest of the ban, targeted toward predominantly Muslim countries, including Iran, but also to an unprecedented show of solidary between the six nominated directors in the foreign language category. Two days before the Oscars, the six directors issued a joint statement decrying the climate of "fanaticism" in the United States. They said that no matter who won, the award would be dedicated to people working to foster "unity and understanding."
"Dividing the world into 'us' and 'enemies' categories creates fear," Ansari continued in Farhadi's statement, which concluded with a passionate defense of the power of film to create empathy "between us and others, an empathy that we need today."
"The Salesman" won over the early favorite, "Toni Erdmann," which in already in the early stages of development for an English language remake starring Jack Nicholson and Kristen Wii, Sweden's "A Man Called Ove," Denmark's "Land of Mine," and Australia's "Tanna."
