The biopic "Séraphine" walked away with no less than 7 Césars at France's annual film awards. It had been nominated in nine categories and took prizes including best actress for Yolande Moreau, best original screenplay, best cinematography, best score, best art direction and best costumes. It pushed out the impressive "Mesrine" series, with Vincent Cassel nonetheless picking up a best actor award.
Inevitably, the blogosphere was again full of claims that the Césars snub the French audience (as in previous years). A notable absence was the runaway hit "Les Ch'tis" (Welcome ot the Sticks) that only managed a nomination in the original screenplay award. Although it unikely that it deserved to win in that section, it is unusual that such a huge hit should be passed over on the night. As actor Dany Boon pointed out, there should be a section for Best Comedy - a genre that France can still excel in but is perhaps a little too low-brow for the august academy.
The full list of César winners:
Best Picture
Seraphine, dir : Martin Provost
Best Actor
Vincent Cassel, Mesrine
Best Actress
Yolande Moreau, Seraphine
Best Director
Jean-Francois Richet, Mesrine
Best Original Screenplay Martin Provost, Seraphine
Best Adapted Screenplay Laurent Cantet, Francois Begaudeau and Robin Campillo, The Class
Best First Film
I've Loved You So Long, dir: Philippe Claudel
Best Supporting Actress
Elsa Zilberstein, I've Loved You So Long
Best Supporting Actor
Jean-Paul Roussillon, A Christmas Tale
Best Newcomer, Male
Marc-Andre Grondin, Le Premier Jour Du Reste De Ta Vie
Best Newcomer, Female
Deborah Francois, Le Premier Jour Du Reste De Ta Vie
Best Score
Michael Galasso, Seraphine
Best Cinematography
Laurent Brunet, Seraphine
Best Costumes
Madeline Fontaine, Seraphine
Best Art Direction
Thierry Francois, Seraphine
Best Editing
Sophie Reine, Le Premier Jour Du Reste De Ta Vie
Best Sound
Alexandre Widmer, Francois Groult, Gerard Hardy, Herve Buirette, Jean Minodo, Mesrine
Best Foreign Film
Waltz With Bashir, dir: Ari Folman
Best Documentary
Les Plages d’Agnes, dir: Agnes Varda
Best Short Film
Les Miettes, dir : Pierre Pinaud