By AFPMore by this AuthorCivil rights dramedy Green Book, the tale of a celebrated black pianist who befriends his white driver as they tour the segregated American South in the 1960s, overcame controversy to claim Oscars gold. The top prize was the third statuette of the night for Green Book, which earned a total of five nominations. Mahershala Ali won the best supporting actor Oscar for his portrayal of pianist Don Shirley, who strikes up an unlikely friendship with driver Tony "Lip" Vallelonga (best actor nominee Viggo Mortensen). The feel-good movie is named after The Negro Motorist Green Book, an annual guidebook that provided African-Americans advice on safe places to eat and sleep while travelling during segregation. "We were aware of the certain tropes, like the white saviour trope -- the white guy saves the black guy -- as well as the black saviour trope -- the black guy saves the white guy," Farrelly told Newsweek in November.

Source: Daily Nation February 25, 2019 06:11 UTC