Denys Arcand finally won an Oscar in 2004 — and he was terrified

While you're still sharing clips from last weekend's Oscars, we're throwing back, way back to 2004, a year when Lord of the Rings swept the show, proving the meek shall inherit the Earth — especially hobbits. Canada also made history at that gala, claiming its first ever Oscar for best foreign film. The movie in question? The Barbarian Invasions by Denys Arcand, a sequel of sorts to the film that earned the Quebec director his first Academy Award nomination, The Decline of the American Empire (1986).  

At the podium, producer Denise Robert (who is also married to Arcand) cracked one of the defining jokes of the night: "We're so thankful that Lord of the Rings did not qualify in this category." Take that, New Zealand.

As for the director, he curiously stayed quiet and declined his time at the mic, which is why on this day in 2004, CBC Radio's As It Happens reached Robert to ask her what happened. Here, she tells reporter Kelly Ryan the story behind the Barbarian Invasions' Oscar moment — and why representing your entire country is hell on the nerves.

As It Happens interviewer Kelly Ryan asked Denise Robert: "What was it like to be up on stage saying those things and accepting?"

Said Robert: "It's very nerve-wracking. … everywhere you look there's a famous face and you're thinking 'Oh my god they're listening to me, what am I saying?'"

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"And there's also a huge teleprompter that does the countdown from 45 seconds down so you're talking and looking at the numbers and all of a sudden you start racing with that teleprompter to make sure you get every word you want to say."

"All three people who were on stage, we all wanted to talk. Anyway, it's nerve-wracking."

Ryan: "Your husband didn't say anything except thanks."

"Well, we arrived on stage and then he said, 'Oh you go first,' because he knows I always need to thank some specific people and he liked me to do it," Robert explained.

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"And then when it was his turn he was also, I guess, mesmerized by the teleprompter that says 'Time up! Time up!' That's why he said 'I guess my time is up.'"

Ryan asked Robert if there might be more to it: "There were comments in the Globe and Mail this morning that because he was known as a critic of American culture and its excesses he made the ultimate statement by making no statement at all."

"Oh, that's ridiculous. That's far fetched," Robert answered. "You have to trust your memory and he went blank. ... But no, no. There was no statement whatsoever. He's not critical of the American culture. Absolutely not."

"What does the win mean for you?" Ryan asked.

"I don't know what it means. I think in a way we were very scared of disappointing the whole country. When you're in best foreign, it's not just your mum you're disappointing, it's your whole country," said Robert.

"It's a prize we want to win with everybody because this film is part of all of us."

Listen to the full audio from 2004:

For more throwbacks like this, visit the CBC Digital Archives.