The combination you don't expect
It's the most coveted award for any actor, presented during an evening that has become much more than a simple ceremony. The Oscar is the most rewarding thing in the world of cinema, but is there a secret to winning it? Perhaps not a secret, but a curious coincidence, yes. When the film is about hunting or is in some way connected to the sport of hunting, success is almost guaranteed. This is by no means an exaggeration, and you only need to look at the various winners of past editions to see it. Moreover, it's a combination that doesn't just refer to a single historical period. Curious to find out which films about hunting and hunters have been awarded the coveted statuette?
The hunter
The title itself suggests how important hunting is to the plot of this masterpiece. “The Hunter” (original title: “The Deer Hunter”) dates back to 1978 and, almost half a century later, it still excites as much as the first time. Directed by Michael Cimino, it stars Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep. Deer hunting in this film is depicted as a true ritual in which discipline and, above all, respect are fundamental: the “one shot” that must be fired at the ungulate is much more than a philosophy, it's a way of life. Nominated for nine Oscars in 1979, it won five (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Editing, and Best Sound).
My Africa
Inspired by Karen Blixen's novel of the same name, "Out of Africa" was released in 1985 and swept the Oscars the following year: its seven Oscars (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Sound, and Best Original Score) confirm a superb film, expertly handled by Sydney Pollack. Meryl Streep once again stars, alongside a splendid Robert Redford: the story centers on the bond between a writer and a hunter, with hunting once again seen as a form of complete respect for nature, exemplified by the scene in which the protagonists confront a lion.
Dance with wolves
In 1990, Kevin Costner became a sensation in this touching film, which he directed and starred in, based on Michael Blake's novel of the same name. The film focuses on Native Americans, particularly the buffalo hunt, as a sacred moment: there's no room for cruelty, only the more spiritual aspect of the hunt itself, giving it even greater meaning. The seven Oscars it won in 1991 testify to its high level of appreciation from the very first screening: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Dramatic Score.
The last of the Mohicans
It's 1992, and the script repeats itself: a film about hunting hits theaters, and it's love at first sight. Michael Mann's "The Last of the Mohicans" is the big-screen adaptation of James Fenimore Cooper's novel, in which the protagonist Hawkeye grew up as a hunter, adhering to the values of his people. Hunting is thus seen as a kind of honor, starting from the very first scene, when a deer is killed and then fully honored. In 1993, despite deserving a few more accolades, it won the Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing, thanks to a poignant and still unforgettable score.
Revenant - Revenant
Released in 2015, “The Revenant” is best remembered as the film that earned Leonardo DiCaprio his first (long-awaited) Oscar for Best Actor. The 2016 Oscars also included Best Director and Best Cinematography. Alejandro González Iñárritu's film is based in part on the novel “The Revenant” by Michael Punke. The protagonist is attacked by a bear and abandoned, but manages to survive thanks to hunting, which allows him to overcome his difficulties and reconnect with the world.
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