Since the announcement of cinema Oscar nominations on January 23, controversies have been accumulating around Jacques Audiard’s latest film, Emilia Pérez. First, many Mexican spectators accused Romantizing the narcotrafic film that plays the country by giving a positive image of traffickers. Then, more recently, a Canadian journalist exhumed several racist and Islamophobic tweets from Karla Sofía Gascón, the main actress named in the category “Best actress.”
It didn’t take more for Hollywood, the film made it become outsider of the competition. The film team even partially dissociated itself from its headliner which had first been erected as a symbol, becoming the first trans actress to be appointed to the Oscars.
All this would almost forget that a few more days ago, the musical film was the big favorite of this 97th edition. On March 2, during the prestigious ceremony in Los Angeles, he will compete in 13 categories and thus joined a limited cenacle of fifteen films to have obtained so many appointments. Their common point? Most are great American films. Emilia Pérez is the first non -Anglo -Saxon film – and the first French film – to be noticed before the ceremony. Despite the controversy, Jacques Audiard’s film is not immune to winning a few awards during this 97th evening and could then enter history. Cocorico?
… he gleaned at least 6 awards
For France, the Oscar ceremony regularly gives rise to a harvest of statuettes. We still remember the feat of The Artistbrought to the clouds during the 84th evening in 2012. He then received 10 nominations and 5 awards, including that of “Best Director” for Michel Hazanavicius and that of “Best actor” for Jean Dujardin. Before him, other French films have been appointed several times, like the Fabulous fate of Amélie Poulain (5) or Cyrano by Jean-Paul Rappeneau (5).
No French film had however obtained 10 nominations (or more) before the early 2010s.
… he gives a new victory to France against Italy
Since 1948, the Academy of Arts and Cinema Sciences has awarded a prize for “Best Foreign Language” – renamed Prix du “Best International Film” in 2019 each year. This is a category in which France is regularly distinguished : It even holds the record for appointments with nearly 40 quotes. In terms of rewards, it is only preceded by Italy, which won the Oscar 11 times (for around thirty appointments).
In 2020, the Korean film Parasite had succeeded in a feat by winning both the Oscar of “Best International Film” and that of “Best Film”. No feature film had never succeeded before. Given the table of appointments this year, Emilia Pérez could also get these two prizes.
During the price season, we often stop at the most popular prices: those who reward a film, an interpreter, even a director. However, in 97 editions, many French people shone in other less highlighted categories. This is particularly the case of the costume designer Jean Louis, cited 15 times or the musician Alexandre Desplat, who already has 10 nominations to his credit.
This year, Emilia Pérez is named in four “technical” categories (“Best sound”, “Best photography”, “Best editing” and “Best Makeup and Hairstyle”), as well as three musical categories.
… it allows France to make a double
Even before the ceremony which must be held to the prestigious Dolby Theater of Los Angeles, the career ofEmilia Pérez has already been brilliant. The film has been appointed more than 250 times in different events and received nearly a hundred distinctions. He was notably crowned with a jury prize in Cannes last May and, more recently, was honored with two prizes during the Bafta in London, including the award of “Best Foreign Language film.”
The film, which also obtained a Golden Globe, could still stand out in Los Angeles and during the Caesars of Cinema, on February 28. On the other hand, Karla Sofía Gascón, her main actress, will not be able to do the Grand Slam, since she has not obtained from Golden Globe.
Finally, there is another possibility of a combination of French awards in the most prestigious categories this year: The substancethe film by Coralie Fargeat, is named in the categories “Best Film”, “Best Original Script” and “Best achievement”. This is the very first time that two French directors have competed in the same category with the Oscars. But this year, the competition is tough: in front of them, we find in particular the American directors ofAnora (Sean Baker) and The brutalist (Brady Corbet), two of the main favorites. Verdict on the night of March 2 to 3.