Cinema: The nominations for the Caesars disturbed by the custody of the president of the CNC
At the César 2021, "The things we say, the things we do", by Emmanuel Mouret, is nominated in thirteen categories, including that of Best film.
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Text by: Siegfried Forster Follow
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This Wednesday, February 10 were announced the films nominated for the César ceremony, the highest distinction of French cinema.
But, instead of regaining a certain serenity after a virulent debate around the distinction of Roman Polanski in 2020, there is the specter of a new scandal which threatens French cinema.
Dominique Boutonnat, president of the Center national du cinema français (CNC), was taken into custody today on suspicion of sexual assault and attempted rape.
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The Caesars, a big celebration of the “family” of French cinema, may also experience a disrupted 2021 edition.
After the anger and indignation expressed last year by actress Adèle Haenel and other personalities of the cinema concerning the César for best film for Roman Polanski, accused by several women of rape, it is the custody of the president of the CNC who threatens to disturb the party scheduled for March 12 at the Olympia.
Dominique Boutonnat, president of the CNC, accused of sexual assault
According to a police source contacted by AFP, a godson of Dominique Boutonnat filed on October 7 a complaint for facts dating from August 2020. The 22-year-old man accuses the boss of French cinema, 51, of aggression sexual intercourse and attempted rape.
Mr. Butonnat disputes these accusations.
Before being appointed CNC president in 2019, Dominique Boutonnat had a long career as a producer of films for cinema and television.
He has collaborated with the biggest names in French cinema, for example
Polisse
de Maïwenn,
Intouchables
by Eric Toledano (vice-president of the Académie des César since September 2020 alongside Véronique Cayla) and Olivier Nakache with Omar Sy ,
La Belle Saison
, by Catherine Corsini with Cécile de France and Noémie Lvovsky or
Le Chant du Loup
, by Antonin Baudry with Omar Sy and Reda Kateb.
How to turn the page?
On March 12, during the Caesar ceremony, the 4,292 voting members of the Academy will therefore probably find it difficult to turn the page on the storm unleashed by the #MeToo movement crystallized in France around accusations of sexual harassment by the actress Adèle Haenel against the director of her first film, Christophe Ruggia, and the anger around the distinction as best director of Roman Polanski, refugee in France, because still wanted by Interpol for having drugged and sodomized a 13-year-old girl, in 1977 , in the United States, and since also accused by a dozen other women of rape or sexual assault.
This year, Roman Polanski is not on the list of nominees and he is no longer an ex officio member of the Academy.
Either way, because of the ravages of the pandemic, the 2021 edition will be exceptional.
The closing of theaters for half of the year caused the postponement of the release of 120 films, only 125 French films were released in France and were therefore eligible for the César.
No parity and little diversity in the list of nominated films
It is the fresco of romantic feelings
The things we say, the things we do
that comes first in the nominations.
Emmanuel Mouret's film is nominated in thirteen categories, including that of Best Film.
The sentimental comedy
Adieu les cons
by Albert Dupontel received twelve nominations like the romance
Summer 85
around the emotional adventures of young homosexuals directed by François Ozon.
Also in the running to succeed
Ladj Ly's
Les Misérables
: the documentary
Adolescentes
by Sébastien Lifshitz and the comedy
Antoinette dans les Cévennes
by Caroline Vignal, the only woman nominated in the most prestigious category of Best Film.
Despite a reform advertised as "
deep
" and led by a woman, neither parity nor diversity has really made a breakthrough in French cinema.
Quite simply black
, by Jean-Pascal Zadi and John Wax, remains with its nomination as Best first film and Best male hope, the exception in the cinematographic landscape in France.
Best film
Goodbye
Albert Dupontel's
idiots
Adolescents
by Sébastien Lifshitz
Antoinette in the Cévennes
by Caroline Vignal
The things we say, the things we do
by Emmanuel Mouret
Summer 85
from François Ozon
Best achievement
Albert Dupontel for
Adieu les cons
Maïwenn for
DNA
Sébastien Lifshitz for
Adolescentes
Emmanuel Mouret for
The things we say, the things we do
François Ozon for
Summer 85
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