Entertainment
The Year’s Most Baffling Oscar Nomination Is This Underseen Documentary Now on Streaming
This year’s Academy Awards nominations had no shortage of surprises, including Kate Hudson’s nomination for Best Actress, Jurassic World Rebirth’s recognition for Best Visual Effects, and the complete absence of Wicked: For Good. However, the biggest head-scratcher of the Oscar nominations was the nomination for the documentary Viva Verdi! in the Best Original Song category for the single “Sweet Dreams of Joy.” Viva Verdi!’s nomination seemingly came at the expense of “Dream as One” from Avatar: Fire and Ash, “Highest 2 Lowest” from Highest 2 Lowest, “Drive” from F1, and both songs from Wicked: For Good, but what was most surprising is that most awards prognosticators didn’t seem to even have the film on their radar. Viva Verdi! had only debuted in select theaters to qualify, and wasn’t selected for the shortlist for Best Documentary, or any other categories for that matter.
Even if the Best Original Song category has been subjected to criticism (specifically due to its unyielding support for Diane Warren), the nomination for Viva Verdi! sheds a spotlight on a film that wouldn’t have received the recognition otherwise. The 80-minute documentary explores the lives of retired opera singers and other musicians who have taken up residence in Casa Verdi, a retirement community in Milan that was named for its founder, Giuseppe Verdi. The Italian composer was a famed opera composer, and the community built on his name serves as a place in which former masters of the craft can continue to cultivate their skills and connect with a younger generation of aspiring artists. Although its recognition may have been met with annoyance by those who depend on the Oscars to be predictable, Viva Verdi! is the type of kind-hearted, earnest work of independent filmmaking that is nice to see every awards season.
‘Viva Verdi!’ Is a Charming, Small-Scale Documentary
This year’s nominees in the Best Documentary category include important titles with strong political intentions, but Viva Verdi! is an observational film that was crafted through strong interviews and footage of Casa Verdi’s residents in action. Although early segments of the film spend time recounting Verdi’s achievements as a musician, which explain why he had the reputation to build such an ambitious establishment, it’s primarily composed of interviews with the current residents who speak to their experiences getting back to their roots. The lack of a clear focus, as the documentary does not have a single figure that it focuses on, is a benefit that makes its goals feel more unencumbered. Even for those with little interest in opera, Viva Verdi! has an empowering message about the ability to keep following a passion later in life; the film refers to this as the “third act” for these artists.
It would be hard for a film like Viva Verdi! to be considered for any substantial prizes, as its production values and footage quality are far outmatched by its competitors; as charming as it is, Viva Verdi! doesn’t need to be compared to documentaries like The Alabama Solution or Mr. Nobody Against Putin, both of which involved their subjects risking their lives. However, “Sweet Dreams of Joy” is a worthwhile entry in the Best Original Song race because it marks an appearance by a classical form of music that isn’t always recognized in the category. It’s also nice to see a Best Original Song nominee that is actually incorporated into the structure of the film itself, as many past winners and nominees in the category are only included within the ending credits scene.
‘Viva Verdi!’ Shows That the Oscars Can Still Be Surprising
While nominations for films like One Battle After Another and F1 help to confirm the success that they already have, Viva Verdi!’s recognition at the Oscars might actually grant it a larger audience. The film debuted at the Woodstock Film Festival and later screened at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival before having a limited run at Laemmle’s Theaters’ Monica Film Center in order to satisfy awards qualifications. Although there has yet to be a confirmation of where it may play next, or if a digital release is in the cards, it’s hard to imagine that a film nominated for an Academy Award will remain obscure for too long. Beyond the fact that director Yvonne Russo and the song’s composer, Nicholas Pike, are bound to receive more opportunities as a result, Viva Verdi! might actually inspire studios to take a closer look at documentaries that make their way around the festival circuit. If nothing else, Viva Verdi! would seem to suggest that award-worthy titles can come in the most unexpected places.
It is within the best interest of the Oscars to nominate a variety of films within the below-the-line categories, rather than giving a majority of the recognition to a handful of titles. Many of the most exciting nominations were from films that weren’t considered heavy contenders and didn’t receive attention anywhere else, such as The Ugly Stepsister in Best Makeup & Hairstyling, The Smashing Machine in the same category, The Lost Bus in Best Visual Effects, or Cutting Through Rocks in Best Documentary. Award season often becomes a bitter time of year in which pundits and critics grow vindictive when criticizing competitors; Viva Verdi!’s nomination isn’t just a nice accolade for a beautiful song, but a reminder that this period of the calendar year should be about celebrating cinema.
Viva Verdi! is available to stream on Jolt in the U.S.
- Release Date
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October 3, 2025
- Runtime
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78 minutes
- Director
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Yvonne Russo