The Greatest Showman #842 - 2 Unpopular

It was exactly because last year's upset wins for Best Actor and Best Actress shook expectations that the Berlin Film Festival's bold choices were so significant. Even one of the few upsets in the festival's history showed the festival's commitment to reform and innovation. With each passing year, this boldness has become more entrenched and secure.

Naturally, this year's attention turned once again to these two awards: Could another upset occur? If so, how would it surprise us this time? And if there is no upset, who will take home the award? The Best Actor and Actress awards at the three major European film festivals are often considered as prestigious, if not more so, than the Oscars.

Under this scrutiny, Jake Gyllenhaal appeared on stage in a suit and leather shoes, but without a tie, giving off a relaxed vibe. He didn't waste time with unnecessary politeness or greetings, instead, he briefly acknowledged the Berlin Film Festival. He raised the envelope in his hand and said, "I know everyone is waiting for me to walk on stage tonight, and I'm sure no one expects a talk show, so I'll get straight to the point."

The audience remained silent—American humor didn't translate well in Germany. Jake's smile faltered slightly at the lack of reaction. After a brief pause, he sighed, "Hoo, welcome to Berlin," poking fun at the city's "coldness."

A chuckle rippled through the audience, and the tense atmosphere eased.

Jake didn't linger on pleasantries, instead focusing on the award. "At the 62nd Berlin Film Festival, the winner of the Silver Bear for Best Actress is..." He opened the envelope, smiled, and read the name aloud: "Congratulations, Rachel Mwanza, 'Battlefield Wizard.'"

Silence. Dead silence. The crowd exchanged confused looks. Another upset.

Battlefield Wizard is set against the backdrop of the civil war in Congo, told from the perspective of a young girl. After losing her parents in the conflict, she is forced to become a child soldier. The rebel commander not only trains her as a killer but also makes her his "sex slave." Amid the chaos, the girl forms a bond with a white-haired boy, whom she calls "the wizard."

Most of the cast in Battlefield Wizard are non-professional actors, many of whom are real survivors of the war.

Rachel Mwanza, the 14-year-old actress, had a life as tragic as her character's. She was homeless, tormented by the ravages of war, and living on the streets when a documentary filmmaker discovered her. That documentary later caught the attention of Canadian director Kim Nguyen, sparking the creation of Battlefield Wizard.

Rachel had no prior acting experience—this was her debut performance. At just 14, she became the youngest actress ever to win the Best Actress award at the Berlin Film Festival.

Unpopular. Again.

After a brief moment of silence, Renly stood up, applauding not only the award but the work itself and the young girl who had emerged from the war.

Just as Battlefield Wizard tells the story of a girl's suffering and survival, it also serves as a reflection of a broader truth: children around the world, whether in developed or underdeveloped nations, continue to suffer. Meanwhile, Battlefield Wizard sheds light on the brutal realities of life in Africa.

The 14-year-old girl had journeyed from the war-torn streets of Congo to the stage at the Berlin Film Festival. Her journey was both incredibly hard and incredibly easy, a reminder of the power of film to reveal a broader world and highlight the quiet strength that comes from resilience.

Renly rose to his feet, joining Meryl Streep as one of the evening's few standing ovations for Rachel Mwanza.

One by one, the other guests stood, and the applause grew louder and louder, echoing throughout the room.

Yet Rachel, the protagonist, was nowhere to be found. The audience, confused, searched for her. Jake stepped off the stage to find Rachel, who appeared small, bewildered, and surrounded by a crowd. She seemed lost and uncertain about what was happening.

Director Kim Nguyen, standing next to her, was in tears, struggling to find words. Jake tried to reassure Rachel, explaining the situation to her, but when she saw his outstretched hand, she recoiled, curling up in her chair with visible apprehension. Jake, unsure how to proceed, looked around for help.

Realizing the problem, Renly quickly stepped forward, crouching beside Rachel. Speaking in French—since French is one of the official languages of Congo—he said, "Are you Rachel? It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Renly."

"You've won. It's time to come up and receive your trophy and say something," Renly continued, his tone warm and encouraging, his gaze meeting Rachel's without hesitation, sympathy, or pity.

Rachel hesitated, glancing at Director Kim for approval. After receiving a nod, she turned back to Renly and asked timidly, "I don't know what to say."

Renly smiled. "You can say anything you want. This is your moment."

Rachel's eyes brightened. "Really? Can I tell Kanida that I miss him and I'll be back soon? That there's lots of aspirin, clean water... and hot water?"

Renly didn't know who Kanida was—perhaps a friend or a relative—but he smiled and nodded. "No problem."

Rachel beamed, standing up. She looked at Director Kim again, and after getting his approval, stepped forward. Her nervousness eased as she walked in Jack's footsteps toward the stage.

Jack winked at Renly, mouthing "Thank you," before quickly guiding Rachel to the stage amid thunderous applause. He handed the trophy to the emcee and gestured toward the microphone, encouraging Rachel to speak.

With youthful courage, Rachel stepped up to the microphone. Her acceptance speech was less about formal thanks and more about a personal message. In broken French, with accents and dialects that veered from standard French, she shared her hopes with Kanida: that she missed him, that she would bring back hot water, and not to worry.

Her speech, which lasted nearly two and a half minutes, was long-winded and not grammatically perfect, but it was heartfelt. The audience, understanding her message, waited patiently, showing no signs of impatience. When she finished, the applause was once again deafening—not only for Rachel but for the African continent, still plagued by war.

As Rachel disappeared into the shadows behind the spotlight, the guests turned their attention back to Jack, eagerly awaiting the next award.

The ceremony had started to gain momentum. The Best Actress award had gone to the 14-year-old Rachel Mwanza, continuing the trend of unexpected winners. Was this a chain of upsets, or an isolated incident? Everyone now looked toward the Best Actor award with growing anticipation.

The atmosphere, charged with curiosity, began to heat up.

Jack, sensing the change, smiled knowingly as he returned to the microphone. "Congratulations again to Rachel Mwanza for her outstanding performance. I personally really enjoyed the work." He paused, sighed, and continued, "Now, onto the Best Actor."

At the Berlin Film Festival, actors are treated equally regardless of whether they play leading or supporting roles. In the competition units, any actor with a significant presence is a contender. Out of the hundreds of performances, standing out is no easy feat.

With the upset win of Rachel, the anticipation for the Best Actor award was now at a boiling point. The atmosphere had finally become tense, and the excitement was palpable.

Jake, without delay, opened the envelope, glanced at the card inside, and smiled brightly. His gaze shimmered with satisfaction, as if to say, "I voted for him. This is the actor I chose."

A moment of suspense filled the air: could this be another unexpected winner? Or would it be someone more popular? The crowd was eager to find out.

Then, with a voice full of certainty, Jake spoke. "The winner of the 62nd Berlin Film Festival Silver Bear for Best Actor is... Renly Hall, 'Transcendence.'"