Absent from the nominations, but more present than ever… in the speeches and next to the first generation awards Caesars, they were there, really there. They are French directors.
Their complete absence in the Best Director category – the first since 2014! – Remember, as soon as the nominations were announced, they made a strong comment.
Although 2022 was remarkable in several respects for French female directors (international awards, public success, a lively diversity of film genres, etc.), this absence was surprising.
Several important moments of the 48th Caesar ceremony made it possible, to some extent, to restore the balance. Starting with Alice Diop, best first film winner Saint Omer, 5 years later for Vers la tendresse the first César for short film.
Accepting the award, the filmmaker, who has already won an award in Venice for Saint Omer, delivered a powerful speech: “I just wanted to say that I am proud to belong to the new generation of French filmmakers. This year I saw extraordinary films that made me think about the possibilities of cinema, and I would like to mention the films that completely inspired me: the films of Claire Denis, the film of Rebecca Zlotowski, the film of Mia Hansen – love, film. Alice Winocour, Céline Devaux film, Blandine Lenoir… Thank you. We will not be in passing, nor will it be a fad. We are called to renew ourselves every year, to grow. Thanks girls. Thank you for being here”.
The two famous actors who won the awards last night also had the elegance to pay tribute to these filmmakers. Virginie Efira and Noemi Merlant wanted to send them a word.
“I will continue this Cesar with another female director, Rebecca Zlotowski– said Virginie Efira on the stage of L’Olympia. thanks other people’s children. Thanks for this great character and shoot. Thank you Anne (Fontaine), Catherine (Corsin), Marion (Vernoux), Emmanuel (Quau). Thanks to Justin Triet, who started it all and opened it up for me. (…) Thank you very much, it gives me immense pleasure.“
For her part, Noemi Merlant, who won a César for Best Supporting Actor for Louis Garrel’s The Innocents, reflected on all of these directors who have counted on her career: “I can’t help but think of Marie-Castille (mention Shaari), for you Jacques (Audiard), for you Celine (Siama) and lastly especially Louis (Garel). (…) I am thinking of all the female directors who should be celebrated this evening. I miss them“.
After the ceremony, in front of the press, Virginie Efira and Noemi Merlant commented on this choice to have a strong opinion about these women.
In addition to the performances, it is worth noting that five female directors were distinguished in categories other than best feature film.
Short film directors achieved a full house with three out of three possible Césars: short feature Partir un jour for Amelie Bonin, short documentary for Maria Schneider, Elisabeth Subrini’s 1983. and an animated short film. For Father’s Sex Life by Urska Djukic and Emily Pigeard.
All of them embody renewal, and as director Emily Pigeard lays out on our mic, “The power of animated cinema“. Note also that the best animated film was awarded to director Mikaela Pavlatova for My Afghan Family. Even on our microphone, Alice Diop commented on this rebalancing.
“Which proves it when you put the finger on unconscious mechanisms, because it’s a lot of things, ultimately, resistance, including women. We grew up in an extremely patriarchal society. (…) It is really a work to raise awareness of these mechanisms of very strong resistance and a way of deconstructing a certain amount of imagination, because I can’t imagine that there is no woman in the entire cinematic year. who could claim the best director nomination. Well, I can’t imagine at all. So there is no doubt that there was this realization, this desire, in choosing the final voice.“
Find the complete winners and recap of the 48th Caesars Ceremony at this link. The entire ceremony is available for replay on myCANAL, as is a montage focused on the highlights.
For the record, Dominik Moll’s La Nuit du 12 was the big winner of the night with 6 statues, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
