It was meant to be the night that Atonement swept all other films aside. Yet despite 14 Bafta (British Academy of Film and Television Awards) nominations it came away with only two awards at Sunday night’s Oscar-rivalling ceremony in London.
The wonderful English romantic tragedy won best film and best production design in a night of surprises that saw the French Edith Piaf biopic, La Vie En Rose, win the most Baftas with four. The film won the best actress for Marion Cotillard when most had expected Julie Christie to win for her moving performance as an Alzheimer’s sufferer in Away From Her. La Vie En Rose also won in the music, make-up and hair and costume design.
Daniel Day-Lewis won his third Bafta in the best actor category for his depiction of an amoral oil pioneer in There Will Be Blood. The Coen brothers won the best director award for their thriller No Country For Old Men. Anthony Hopkins was given the academy fellowship, the equivalent of a lifetime achievement award.
