The ceremony was marked by the controversy aroused by the prices awarded to Roman Polanski for “J’accuse” despite the accusations of rape hanging over the filmmaker.
The rape charges hanging over Roman Polanski haven’t stopped him from winning the César Award for Best Achievement for I accuse. The 45th César ceremony took place in a tense atmosphere, Friday, February 28, marred by controversies over sexual violence in the cinema. Actress Adèle Haenel, who recently accused director Christophe Ruggia of sexual assault, left the room as soon as Roman Polanski’s coronation was announced.
The 12 nominations of I accuse by Roman Polanski had already sparked outrage and demonstrations outside the Salle Pleyel where the event was taking place. The filmmaker and his team did not attend the ceremony. “We have to settle a case. There are twelve moments when we will have a problem”, affirmed, at the beginning of the ceremony Florence Foresti who animated the great mass of French cinema. “To celebrate actresses is to celebrate the women they are”, said Anaïs Demoustier, awarded by the César for best actress for Alice and the mayor.
In addition to the discomfort caused by the award attributed to Roman Polanski, the evening was marked by the coronation of Misérables Ladj Ly’s film on the life of a Montfermeil district (Seine-Saint-Denis) caught between police violence and the rage of youth. The film Portrait of the girl on fire, by Céline Sciamma, won no awards in the major categories, despite 10 nominations. Discover the complete prize list of the ceremony:
The main awards
• Best film : Wretched from Ladj Ly
• Best achievement: Roman Polanski for I accuse
• Best actress: Anaïs Demoustier in Alice and the mayor
• Best actor : Roschdy Zem in Roubaix, a light
• Most promising Actress : Lyna Khoudri in Papicha
• Best male hope: Alexis Manenti for Wretched
• Best supporting actress: Fanny Ardant in The good times
• Best actor in a supporting role: Swann Arlaud in Thanks to God
• Best first movie : Papicha by Mounia Meddour
• Honorary Caesar:
• Public Cesar: Wretched from Ladj Ly
• Best Foreign Film: Parasite by Bong Joon-ho
In the rest of the prize list
• Best original script: Nicolas Bedos for The good times
• Better adaptation: Roman Polanski and Robert Harris for I accuse
• Best original music: Dan Lévy for I lost my body
• Better editing: Flora Volpelière for Wretched
• Best animated film: I lost my body by Jérémy Clapin,
• Best documentary: M by Yolande Zauberman
• Better sound: Nicolas Cantin, Thomas Desjonquères, Raphaël Mouterde, Olivier Goinard and Randy Thom for The song of the wolf
• Best photo: Claire Mathlon for Portrait of the girl on fire
• Best costumes: Pascaline Chavanne for I accuse
• Best decorations: Stéphane Rozenbaum for The good times
• Best short film: On time by Lauriane Escaffre and Yvonnick Muller
• Best animated short film: The Night of Plastic Bags by Jérémy Clapin
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