Chinese director Chloe Zhao has made history as the first Asian woman and the second female director to win for Best Director at the Golden Globes for the drama “Nomadland” on Sunday.
Her historic 78th Annual Golden Globes Awards win was celebrated globally, including in China, where many social media users praised the 38-year-old director for her work, according to BBC.
“This is the first time a Chinese female director has ever won. Congratulations Director Zhao, looking forward to your next award,” a Weibo user said.
Meanwhile, many people congratulated Zhao on Twitter, including Barbara Streisand, the first woman to win Best Director at the Globes in 1983.
It’s about time! Congratulations Chloé! Well deserved!
— Barbra Streisand (@BarbraStreisand) March 1, 2021
Another Twitter user said her win was an inspiration to many Asian women in the arts.
“I cannot stress this enough, as an Asian woman in the arts, it is so inspiring to see Chloe Zhao make history tonight as the first woman of color to win for best director,” the user said.
Here’s what other people are saying:
i’m the most proud of chloé zhao. she’s gonna make history this award season. she’s an inspiration to so many people, young girls, young ASIAN girls (including me). she deserves all the love and i’m so proud of her. good nignt 🥰
— sic (@Iadybrds) March 1, 2021
not even kidding i’m sobbing abt chloe zhao’s win this is so inspiring to me GO ASIAN WOMEN
— flor ☆ (@littlewomenfiIm) March 1, 2021
“I just love what I do,” Zhao said of her win, South China Morning Post reported. “I just really love it, and if this means more people like me get to live their dream and get to do what I do, I’m happy.”
“Nomadland” is Zhao’s third feature film after “Songs My Brothers Taught Me” (2015) and “The Rider” (2017).
“’Nomadland’ at its core for me is a pilgrimage through grief and healing,” she said. “So for everyone who has gone through this difficult and beautiful journey at some point in their lives, this is for you.”
Born and raised in China, Zhao attended a boarding school in London before moving to Los Angeles to finish high school,
CNBC reported. She studied political science at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts and worked different jobs for a few years before deciding to move to New York to enroll at a film school.
Besides “Nomadland,” the Asian community has a lot to celebrate with Lee Isaac Chung’s best foreign-language award win for “Minari” at the recent Golden Globes.
the way lee isaac chung’s daughter jumped into her dad’s arms hugged him tight and shouted, “i prayed! i prayed!” when minari won a golden globe 🥺 pic.twitter.com/IBimiBUZYF
— William Yu (@its_willyu) March 1, 2021
Some are still calling out the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for putting “Minari” under the foreign-language category even though the film tells the story of a Korean American family in Arkansas.
Congratulations to Minari for winning at #GoldenGlobes.
Also, it’s ridiculous that HFPA barred Minari from competing for best picture. Asian Americans are American, and Arkansas is in the United States. HFPA and @goldenglobes need to stop discriminating. https://t.co/09tG7Z2ywY
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) March 1, 2021
“Minari” won Best Foreign Language Film at the Golden Globes — but critics say its category makes no sense.
The film, about a Korean American family in Arkansas, was produced and financed in the U.S.
It was put into the category because less than half of it was in English. pic.twitter.com/mk9oUZWkCz
— AJ+ (@ajplus) March 2, 2021
“So when the Golden Globes air on Sunday, this American movie written and directed by an American man about a family’s struggles on their American farm will be competing in a surprising category: best foreign-language film.” On Minari: https://t.co/woxtipdYa8
— Millie Tran (@millie) February 26, 2021
I try to watch at least four movies during each weekend. But this weekend I’d only focus on MINARI.
Still can’t believe Golden Globes categorized it as a ‘foreign movie’ when it is obviously about America.#Minari is available on digital starting Friday 26/2#RekomenFilem pic.twitter.com/pHohS791Ew
— Rekomen Filem🇲🇾 (@RekomenByAsrul) February 25, 2021
The HFPA rules state at least 50% of the film’s language must be in English for it to be placed under the two of the most competitive categories at the awards show.
Feature Image via Getty
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