The film Anatomy of a fall, already awarded at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023, continued to win the prizes by emerging as the big winner from this 49th César ceremony with six awards, including those for best film and best director for Justine Triet. A ceremony especially marked by the punchy speech of actress Judith Godrèche, who has become a leading figure in #MeToo in French cinema.
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“ Be the second woman in history to receive the César » after Tonie Marshall in 2000, « It’s a little scary and brilliant at the same time, it gives hope for the future. We very much hope so in any case », launched Justine Triet while receiving the best prize for the production of the big winner of the evening, Anatomy of a fallwhich was nominated in eleven categories.
In total, six Césars for the feature film, already awarded the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 2023, and in the running for the Oscars with five nominations. This Friday, February 23, for the 49e Cesar ceremony, the film therefore won the prize for best screenplay, best editing, best direction, as well as best film.
“Being the second woman in the history of the Césars to obtain this award in 49 years is not nothing” 🎙️
Justine Triet’s emotion when receiving the César for Best Director.#César2024 pic.twitter.com/CFjCUU6yL6
— CANAL+ (@canalplus) February 23, 2024
German actress Sandra Hüller, who plays the main character accused of murdering her husband in Anatomy of a fallhas won the César for best actress, while the César for best supporting actor was awarded to actor Swann Arlaud for his role as a lawyer. Another favorite with 12 nominations: The animal kingdom by Thomas Cailley who walked away with five prizes.
“ To all women, to those who succeed and those who fail »
Throughout the evening, we particularly note the tributes paid to women as well as to victims of sexual violence. And it was to a standing ovation, by the representatives of a French cinema accused of having covered up the violence for years, that the actress Judith Godrèche made her entrance onto the stage of the Olympia.
Became the spearhead of the denunciation of sexual violence in French cinemathe latter denounced the “ level of impunity, denial and privilege » in the world of French cinema. “ Why accept that this art that binds us is used as a cover for illicit trafficking in young girls? », questioned in a poignant speech the one who filed a complaint against the directors Benoît Jacquot and Jacques Doillon for sexual and physical violence during her adolescence. “ You have to be wary of little girls. They hit the bottom of the pool, they bump, they get hurt, but they bounce back », continued the artist, quoting a piece of dialogue from a Jacques Rivette film.
In addition, director Justine Triet dedicated her prize to “ to all women […] to those who succeed and those who fail, those who have been hurt and who free themselves by speaking, and those who cannot. “. Also note that in an equally symbolic way, the Academy awarded its very first prize at the start of the evening – the César for best actress in a supporting role – to Adèle Exarchopoulos, for I will always see your faceswhere she plays a young girl victim of incest.
Read also“Anatomy of a Fall”, the beautiful journey of a French film from Cannes to the Oscars
(With AFP)