All's fair in love and April Fools' pranks.
Oscar winner Sarah Polley took to Twitter to share the joke her 11-year-old pulled on April 1.
To be honest, it's quite genius.
Polley posted a photo of a letter, supposedly written by the former president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences David Rubin.
The letter revealed Polley was mistakenly given—and therefore needed to return—her Oscar, which she won for her screenplay Women Talking, as it was actually intended for All Quiet on the Western Front.
It began:
"Dear Sarah Polley, we say this to you with the deepest regrets: the Oscar you received was given by mistake - you must return it."
"We are giving you one more week to enjoy its presence in your home, but after that period of time you must mail it back to LA, where we will give it to the rightful best adapted screenplay: All Quiet on the Western Front."
"We are sorry for your loss, but it is only fair that the play with the 'real' best adapted screenplay gets the Oscar."
\u201cMy eleven-year-old swung low for April Fools Day this year. #AprilFoolsDay\u201d— @realSarahPolley (she/her) (@@realSarahPolley (she/her)) 1680351322
"Rubin" shared the Academy should have fixed the error on the night of the Oscars, but didn't want to cause a media frenzy.
The letter also mentioned the Year of the Moonlight fiasco of 2017, in which La La Land was erroneously announced as the Best Picture winner.
Finally, the "former president" acknowledged the questionable date, ensuring Polley that although she would likely receive the letter on April Fool's Day, "this is much too cruel to be a joke."
The letter finished:
"Again, sorry for any inconvenience."
"Sincerely, David Rubin"
It was complete with a handwritten signature.
Hilariously, director of All Quiet on the Western Front Edward Berger responded:
"Dear Sarah, to save on mailing costs as I live overseas, the Academy has asked me to provide you with my address so you can ship the Oscar directly."
"I will follow up shortly. Ok with you?"
"All best, Edward"
\u201c@realsarahpolley Dear Sarah, to save on mailing costs as I live overseas the Academy has asked me to provide you with my address so you can ship the Oscar directly. I will follow up shortly. Ok with you? All best, Edward\u201d— @realSarahPolley (she/her) (@@realSarahPolley (she/her)) 1680351322
That sounded like a great plan to Polley's kid!
\u201c@edward_berger My kid says to tell you that it's already packaged and on its way.\ud83d\ude15\u201d— @realSarahPolley (she/her) (@@realSarahPolley (she/her)) 1680351322
Others on Twitter responded to the "genius" prank.
\u201c@realsarahpolley\u201d— @realSarahPolley (she/her) (@@realSarahPolley (she/her)) 1680351322
\u201c@realsarahpolley Absolute genius!!!!!!!!\u201d— @realSarahPolley (she/her) (@@realSarahPolley (she/her)) 1680351322
\u201c@realsarahpolley So genius. Pretty clear from this she'll be winning her own Oscar one day. And her David Rubin signature forgery was SPOT ON!\u201d— @realSarahPolley (she/her) (@@realSarahPolley (she/her)) 1680351322
\u201c@realsarahpolley WELL PLAYED\u201d— @realSarahPolley (she/her) (@@realSarahPolley (she/her)) 1680351322
\u201c@realsarahpolley Your child is a genius. This has to be the best April Fools yet. \ud83d\ude02\u201d— @realSarahPolley (she/her) (@@realSarahPolley (she/her)) 1680351322
\u201c@realsarahpolley \u201cWe did not want another \u2018Year of the Moonlight.\u2019\u201d With this cleverness at age 11, there are more writing awards in your family\u2019s future.\u201d— @realSarahPolley (she/her) (@@realSarahPolley (she/her)) 1680351322
\u201c@realsarahpolley Your child achieves legendary status with this. \ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\u201d— @realSarahPolley (she/her) (@@realSarahPolley (she/her)) 1680351322
Many loved the language and style choices made by the 11-year-old.
\u201c@realsarahpolley The \u201cergo\u201d is clutch.\u201d— @realSarahPolley (she/her) (@@realSarahPolley (she/her)) 1680351322
\u201c@Oliver_Vaquer @realsarahpolley It\u2019s the italics for me\u201d— @realSarahPolley (she/her) (@@realSarahPolley (she/her)) 1680351322
\u201c@Oliver_Vaquer @realsarahpolley I died laughing at \u201cergo\u201d\u201d— @realSarahPolley (she/her) (@@realSarahPolley (she/her)) 1680351322
\u201c@realsarahpolley ERGO?! Killed it\u201d— @realSarahPolley (she/her) (@@realSarahPolley (she/her)) 1680351322
\u201c@realsarahpolley They got out the thesaurus for this one! \ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02\u201d— @realSarahPolley (she/her) (@@realSarahPolley (she/her)) 1680351322
Well played, genius offspring, well played.
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