What you need to know about the Oscar-2019 winner Green Book

The film follows the journey of black pianist Don Shirley on tour in the South of the United States in the early sixties. With racial segregation still rampant in many cities, he hired bouncer Tony Wallelonga, nicknamed Chatterbox, as a driver and guard. At first, the main characters could not find a common language, but by the end of the trip they became real friends.

This is a real story

The plot is based on the real story of the tour of the famous musician Don Shirley and his driver Tony. The script was written by Nick Vallelonga, the son of one of the characters. Although later, Shirley's relatives released a statement that a significant part of the plot was a lie. Especially those moments that relate to Shirley and Tony's friendship, as well as Don's relationship with his family.

The Green Book, which gave the title to the film, is also real - from the thirties to the mid-sixties, The Negro Travelers' Green Book, compiled by postal worker Hugo Green, was actually published in the United States. The fact is that due to segregation, black travelers had to carefully choose where to stay or eat. Most of the hotels and cafes were closed to them.

The writers combined historical context, real heroes and fiction. The result is an easy and interesting plot that will appeal to even those who are not familiar with either the past of the United States or Don Shirley's music.

This is a serious film from a comedy director

Peter Farrelly, like his brother Bobby, is mostly known for his crazy comedies. Together they made Dumb and Dumber, Me, Me and Irene, Movie 43 and other similar films. The Green Book, of course, also has a lot of funny situations. Many of them are built on the difference between the characters of the main characters: a reserved black intellectual and a chatty Italian from the working class are forced to spend a lot of time together in the same car.

But this time Farrelli did not turn the action into a grotesque comedy. This is a great road movie, where friendship and communication are at the center of the plot, and a serious theme of racism is in the background.

This is an amazing reincarnation of actors

"Green Book": This is a stunning reincarnation of actors

Of course, Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali are not very much like the real Shirley and Chatterbox Tony. But the authors relied not on visual conformity, but on the talent of the performers. And they did the right thing. The Dane Mortensen surprisingly vividly played the Italian Vallelonga, gaining weight for the role. It is no longer recognizable by everyone's beloved Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings.

Mahershala Ali is much higher than his historical prototype, but when he plays the piano it is even difficult to imagine that the soundtrack was actually recorded by a professional pianist. It seems that the actor really played everything himself.

Viggo Mortensen did not get an Oscar only because of too strong competitors - the award was taken by Rami Malek, who reincarnated as Freddie Mercury on the set of Bohemian Rhapsody. But Ali deservedly received a new award.

This is the best film of the year

Of course, one can argue about such a title. Among the contenders for the main Oscar nomination were many worthy works: "Roma" by the amazing visionary Alfonso Cuaron, another reincarnation of Christian Bale in the film "Power", the ironic historical "Favorite" and others.

But the "Green Book" still deserves this award more than others. The film raises serious themes related to history. At the same time, the authors do not fall into moralizing and simply talk about the friendship of two different people. It has a great soundtrack from the compositions of Don Shirley, and the main roles are amazing actors.