Paris (AFP)
French cinema will try to change the scene despite the theaters closed during the Caesar evening, an institution deeply renewed after its existential crisis last year.
Given for dying, the ceremony is back, with Roschdy Zem as president of this 46th edition which looks like a crash-test for the Academy, and Marina Foïs as mistress of ceremonies.
It will not be "an evening to pamper yourself", promised the one who is supported in the writing by Blanche Gardin and Laurent Lafitte, full of irony: "it is all the same at funerals that we laugh the most".
It must be said that not many people have the heart to the party: the world of cinema despairs of obtaining the slightest signal of a reopening of theaters, a year after the first decision to turn off the projectors.
Several hundred films are overdue, ready to be released.
In the meantime, the evening, which peaked at more than 2 million viewers last year, will be broadcast live on Canal + (unencrypted) and on RTL, whose site has unveiled the names of the main award winners. including Virginie Efira, Isabelle Huppert, Valérie Lemercier or Vincent Dedienne.
Adèle Haenel should not be: the actress was offered to give a Caesar, but declined "like many others, for reasons that belong to her," said Marina Foïs this week.
The symbol would have been strong, a year after the shattering departure of the actress of "Portrait of the young girl on fire" in full ceremony, to denounce the coronation of Roman Polanski, filmmaker who faces accusations of rape, rewarded for "I accuse".
- A trio in the lead -
As for the 2021 awards, in addition to a César anniversary to a group of happy sixties, the troupe of Splendid (Christian Clavier, Gérard Jugnot, Thierry Lhermitte, Michel Blanc, Josiane Balasko ...) authors of "Bronzés" and "Santa Claus is a junk ", a trio of films are in the lead.
Big favorite with 13 nominations, "The things we say, the things we do" by Emmanuel Mouret, tireless explorer of the feeling of love, can hope, in addition to the title of best film, that of best actress (Camélia Jordana) and best actor (Niels Schneider).
Are also very well placed "Eté 85" of François Ozon, filmmaker often named and never rewarded, as well as "Adieu les Cons" of Albert Dupontel, with the direction and the interpretation, with Virginie Efira, in the running for the César for Best Actress.
In all categories, rising stars (director Caroline Vignal and actress Laure Calamy for "Antoinette in the Cévennes", actor Jonathan Cohen in "Huge") rub shoulders with older backpackers from the cinema (actor Lambert Wilson for "De Gaulle", or actress Barbara Sukowa for "Deux", awarded at Cannes 35 years ago) ...
The selection was limited this year, because only films released in theaters in 2020, spent between the drops of months of confinement, could compete.
- Achieve parity -
But the essential will not necessarily be there: the Caesars must also prove that they have changed their mind after a historic crisis last year.
Against the backdrop of controversy around Roman Polanski, the Academy, accused of self-reliance and opacity, had seen its management resign two weeks before the ceremony.
The Caesars have since been overhauled from top to bottom, with more transparent and democratic processes, under the aegis of a whole new direction, entrusted to Véronique Cayla (former president of Arte) and the director Eric Toledano.
The choice of Marina Foïs as mistress of ceremonies, feminist actress and at the forefront of the denunciation of the practices of the old management, is not neutral.
But work remains to be done, in particular to achieve parity in the college of voters, recognizes the latter.
In terms of price, there is a risk that the revival will be delayed: on the parity side, only one woman is nominated in the queen category of "best film", Caroline Vignal, just like for "best achievement" (Maïwenn for her film "DNA").
As for diversity, especially ethnic diversity, another hot topic, it may be less present than last year, when Ladj Ly's “Miserables” was crowned best film.
© 2021 AFP