BAFTAs 2021: 8 Ups & 7 Downs

2. The Not-Very-British Promising Young Woman Wins Outstanding British Film

One of the strangest wins this year saw Promising Young Woman scoop the Outstanding British Film gong, despite not really being all that British.

Yes, it's written and directed by English filmmaker Emerald Fennell and stars English actress Carey Mulligan, but considering that it's set in the U.S., is a culturally American film, and features an overwhelmingly American cast, is it really a fitting recipient of such an award?

Given that the likes of Limbo, Saunt Maud, His House, and Rocks were all equally if not more-acclaimed than Promising Young Woman while all being more distinctly rooted in Britain and British values, they all feel far, far more deserving of the win.

This has been a common criticism against this category, admittedly, what with several not-very-British films picking up the win in prior years, most recently Gravity and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

To make matters worse, Promising Young Woman isn't released in the UK until April 16th, meaning the vast majority of the British public hasn't even been able to see it yet.