The 50th César Awards have unveiled their nominations, with Le Comte de Monte-Cristo, L'Amour ouf, and Emilia Perez leading the pack. The ceremony, set for February 28, celebrates French cinema while addressing past controversies with new reforms.
The 50th edition of the César Awards, set to take place on February 28 at the Olympia in Paris, has unveiled its list of nominations, with three standout films leading the pack: Le Comte de Monte-Cristo, L'Amour ouf, and Emilia Perez. These films, beloved by audiences and critics alike, are competing for major honors in what promises to be a memorable celebration of French cinema.
Le Comte de Monte-Cristo, the star-studded adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ classic novel, leads with 14 nominations. The film, which grossed 9.4 million admissions in France, is already the second most successful film of 2024. Pierre Niney, who plays the titular role, is a strong contender for Best Actor, alongside François Civil for L'Amour ouf, a romantic comedy that has become a massive hit with younger audiences. L'Amour ouf garnered 13 nominations, with Adèle Exarchopoulos competing for Best Actress, marking a long-awaited return to the César stage after her 2013 win for La Vie d’Adèle.
The international success of Emilia Perez, directed by Jacques Audiard, continues to make waves. This visually stunning musical about a Mexican drug trafficker’s gender transition has received 12 nominations, including for Best Film and Best Director. The film’s success extends beyond France, with 13 nominations at the Oscars—the most ever for a non-English-language film. Karla Sofia Gascon’s performance as the lead has garnered significant attention, with many hoping for a César win in recognition of her resilience against transphobic hate campaigns.
Despite the prominence of Le Comte de Monte-Cristo and L'Amour ouf, other films have also made their mark. Miséricorde, a film from Alain Guiraudie, is competing in several categories, including Best Film and Best Director. Similarly, L’Histoire de Souleymane, a poignant tale of an undocumented migrant’s journey through Paris, has received attention for its social relevance, especially as the French government seeks to tighten immigration laws. The film’s lead actor, Abou Sangaré, also makes a strong case for Best Male Revelation.
In the Best Director category, the competition is fierce, with Gilles Lellouche (for L'Amour ouf), Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de la Patellière (for Le Comte de Monte-Cristo), and Jacques Audiard (for Emilia Perez) all vying for the top honor. Notably, for the first time in years, no female directors are in the running for Best Director, despite the fact that the César Academy has made significant strides toward gender parity in recent years.
Other key nominations include Best Supporting Actress, where Élodie Bouchez, Catherine Frot, and Nina Meurisse are among the frontrunners, and Best Supporting Actor, with names like Alain Chabat and Laurent Lafitte featured for their roles in L'Amour ouf and Le Comte de Monte-Cristo respectively. Additionally, Un p'tit truc en plus, the heartwarming comedy about actors with disabilities, has earned a solitary nomination for Best First Film, despite being the year’s biggest domestic hit, with 10.8 million tickets sold.
The César Awards are an opportunity for the Academy to show its commitment to reforms. Following years of criticism over its insularity and mishandling of allegations related to sexual harassment, the Academy has pledged to suspend any member implicated in legal issues surrounding such cases.
As the 50th César ceremony approaches, anticipation is high for what promises to be a milestone event, marked by the presence of legendary actress Catherine Deneuve, who will preside over the evening. The star-studded night will be hosted by Jean-Pascal Zadi, and special honors will go to American actress Julia Roberts and director Costa-Gavras, who will both receive lifetime achievement awards.
With AFP
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