44th César Award Winners

Last night the French Academy had their award ceremony and was able to watch live the beginning, but soon enough couldn't keep my eyes open as show became really tedious.  Nevertheless at the beginning there were a couple of moments where I laugh like crazy, which is good as do not particularly like French humor.

The president of the 44th ceremony was none other than Kristin Scott Thomas, who opened the ceremony with a speech that felt to me like a reminder to all that she can do French cinema (and she's extraordinary in French cinema); so, let's hope someone heard the plea and gives her a movie ASAP as the quality of French movies need to improve fast.  For me this year the quality of the honored movies was a tat below the average, sigh; then, there are a couple of good actor's performances but couldn't save the movies.  Ah! yes, I love Jacques Audiard films, he's truly a master-filmmaker, but The Sisters Brothers is more American than French cinema, so it does not count for my perception.

By-the-way having in one place Kristin Scott Thomas and César d'Honeur Robert Redford was like The Horse Whisper reunion with just Scarlett Johansson missing.  Eddy de Pretto honored late Charles Aznavour, Cécile Cassel and Stéfi Celma honored late Michel Legrand, and Diane Kruger lead a tribute to honor late Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld.

2017 Venice Silver Lion winner Jusqu’à La Garde (Custody) by Xavier Legrand lead the pack along with Le Gran Bain (Sink Or Swim) by Gilles Lelouche as each had 10 nominations; but, it's Custody was the winner with four awards including top prize as the second got only one.  Still, The Sisters Brothers collected four awards tying with Custody for the top spot of the night.

Even do top award winner was a surprise for some, let's recall Jusqu’à La Garde won the Louis Delluc prize last December, so film came with good credentials within France and from the Biennale, therefore should not be a major surprise, isn't?

Best Film: Jusqu’à La Garde (Custody), Xavier Legrand, France

Best Debut Film: Shéhérazade, Jean-Bernard Marlin, France
Best Documentary Film: Ni juge, ni soumise (So Help Me God), Jean Libon and Yves Hinant, France and Belgium
Best Animated Feature: Dilili à Paris (Dilili in Paris, Michel Ocelot, France, Germany and Belgium
Best Foreign Film: Nanbiki kazoku (Shoplifters), Hirokazu Koreeda, Japan

Best Director: Jacques Audiard for The Sisters Brothers, France, Spain, Romania, Belgium and USA

Best Actress: Léa Drucker in Jusqu’à La Garde (Custody), Xavier Legrand, France
Best Supporting Actress: Karin Viard in Les Chatouilles (Little Tickles), Andréa Bescond and Eric Métayer, France
Most Promising Actress: Kenza Fortas in Shéhérazade, Jean-Bernard Marlin, France
Best Actor: Alex Lutz in Guy, Alex Lutz, France
Best Supporting Actor: Philippe Katerine in Le Gran Bain (Sink Or Swim), Gilles Lelouche, Belgium and France
Most Promising Actor: Dylan Robert in Shéhérazade, Jean-Bernard Marlin, France

Best Original Screenplay: Xavier Legrand for Jusqu’à La Garde (Custody), Xavier Legrand, France
Best Adaptation: Andréa Bescond and Eric Métayer for Les Chatouilles (Little Tickles), Andréa Bescond and Eric Métayer, France

Best Cinematography: Benoît Debie for The Sisters Brothers, Jacques Audiard, France, Spain, Romania, Belgium and USA
Best Editing: Yorgos Lamprinos for Jusqu’à La Garde (Custody), Xavier Legrand, France
Best Production Design: Michel Barthélémy for The Sisters Brothers, Jacques Audiard, France, Spain, Romania, Belgium and USA
Best Costume: Pierre-Jean Larroque for Mademoiselle de Joncquières, Emmanuel Mouret, France

Best Original Score: Vincent Blanchard and Romain Greffe for Guy, Alex Lutz, France
Best Sound: Brigitte Taillandier, Valérie de Loof and Cyril Holtz for The Sisters Brothers, Jacques Audiard, France, Spain, Romania, Belgium and USA

Best Short Film: Les Petites Mains (Little Hands), Rémi Allier, France and Belgium
Best Animated Short Film: Vilaine Fille (Wicked Girl), Ayçe Kartal, France and Turkey

Honorary César: Robert Redford
César du Public: Les Tuche 3 (The Magic Tuche), Olivier Baroux, France

To check winners at official site go here.