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Anatomy cleans up at the Césars

Oppenheimer’s Nolan pays tribute to France’s love for cinema

by Richard Mowe

Sandra Hüller named best actress at the Césars for her role in the awards roller-coaster Anatomy of a Fall Photo: Les Films Pelléas

The major winner at the César awards (France’s answer to the Oscars) was Justine Triet’s courtroom thriller Anatomy Of A Fall which garnered Best Film, Best Director, Best Actress (for Sandra Hüller as the novelist charged with her husband’s death) as well as Best Supporting Actor for Swann Arlaud as the advocate and Best Original Screenplay for Triet and her partner and co-writer Arthur Harari.

Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan, received his previously announced honorary César, from actress Marion Cotillard, who praised the director’s “incredible virtuosity”, describing him as one of the “great magicians” of the Seventh Art. Nolan in return admitted being struck by the love that the French possess for cinema - Oppenheimer received its world premiere at the massive Grand Rex cinema in Paris. He suggested his second film Memento was appreciated by the French long before the rest of the world recognised its merits.

And Agnes Jaoui, a much revered French actor, screenwriter and filmmaker, also received an honorary Cesar Award from comedian to tumultuous acclaim from the home crowd. He said that Jaoui, indelibly partnered with the late Jean-Pierre Bacri, was no push-over in the friendship stakes but that once she decided she liked you “it is for life”.

Actress Judith Godrêche … accusations of sexual assault stunned the César ceremony Photo: Photo Canal+

In a ceremony at the music hall, the Olympia, that traditionally is long on speeches and tributes (including a fleeting glimpse of the late Jane Birkin in the images of those departed) a surprise intervention came from actress Judith Godrêche who has accused directors Benoît Jacquot and Jacques Doillon of sexual assault. Both men have denied the accusations with Doillon suggesting he would sue the actress for defamation. Godrêche made her incendiary declaration in front of the stunned audience who rose to give her a standing ovation after she had pronounced: “Could it be possible for us to look at truth up front, take our responsibilities, be the actors and the actresses of a world that questions itself.”

She followed on stage the actress Adèle Exarchopoulos who received a Best Supporting Actress César for All Your Faces (a second César for the actress after her best female newcomer for Blue Is The Warmest Colour some 10 years ago). The film’s themes of sexual violence chimed with Godrêche’s comments.

One of the other main contenders Thomas Cailley’s supernatural drama The Animal Kingdom came away rather light-handed despite its 12 nominations. It won Césars for best sound and original score as well as best photography for the director’s brother David Cailley, best costumes and visual effects.

Best actor César for Arieh Worthalter in Cédric Kahn’s The Goldman Case made a special plea for a ceasefire in Gaza in his acceptance speech Photo: Richard Mowe

Best actor winner Arieh Worthalter for Cédric Kahn’s The Goldman Case proved a popular choice with the actor using his acceptance speech to make a special plea for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The coming-of-age drama Junkyard Dog won Best First Film for writer-director Jean-Baptiste Durand in his feature-length directorial debut while his main actor Raphaël Quenard (best male newcomer) used the platform to support France’s protesting agricultural workers.

The evening, however, belonged to Triet and company. She described the collaboration with her partner Harari as “intense but great” but she declared herself unsure that he would want to repeat the experience. Harari laughingly suggested that he had written her speech. Triet is only the second woman to take the Best Director César accolade since Tonie Marshall received it for Venus Beauty Institute in 2000. She thanked all the actresses she has worked with including Laëtitia Dosch, Virginie Efira, Adèle Exarchopoulos and, of course, Sandra Hüller. In a final flourish she dedicated her award to all women who feel compromised in their choices and those who succeed in breaking out.

And now for the Oscars …

Full list of César Award winners:

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