Lithuanian-descent ‘Revenant’ cinematographer wins Oscar

Lubezki had already won two consecutive Academy Awards for Best Cinematography for his work on the films Gravity and Birdman.

Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance as a frontiersman bent on revenge finally won him the best actor award. Alejandro G. Iñárritu claimed the best director Oscar.

Lubezki’s grandfather Max was a Lithuanian citizen born in Alytus who emigrated to City in the interwar period. Lubezki’s grandmother was also an immigrant from Eastern Europe. Her family left Russia to escape the Bolshevik Revolution.

Based on the true story of a frontiersman Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio), who was left for dead in a harsh winter in the 1800s, the film had a long and difficult shoot in snowbound Canada and Argentina.

Lubezki told Variety Magazine that the conditions were necessary to communicate the experience.

“We wanted to make a movie that was immersive and visceral,” he said. “The idea of using natural light came because we wanted the audience to feel, I hope, that this stuff is really happening.”

The film secured 12 Academy Award nominations, picking up three on Sunday. “The Revenant” had to concede the best picture award to the newsroom drama “Spotlight”.