César Nominations: Gay drama "Summer of 85" Leads
Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 2:00PM
NATHANIEL R in César Awards, François Ozon, Summer of 85, Two of Us

by Nathaniel R

Summer of '85

Oops. This headline is misleading due to a miscount. The nomination leader at the César's (i.e. the French oscars) is a film called Love Affair(s). But François Ozon's gay coming of age drama Summer of '85, which has a bit of an international profile given its festival run, is not far behind with an impressive 12 nods. Two of us, the lesbian drama and France's Oscar finalist (and Golden Globe nominee) this year, didn't fare as well, receiving only four nominations (two of which are in Best Actress). Because the Oscar calendars were so different than usual this year, none of these films will be eligible for Oscar submission next year from France (usually you get a lot of late year titles from home countries which are submitted the following year to the Oscars but that can't be the case next season due to the extended eligibility peeriod). Hopefully some of these titles will make their way to us here in the US soon.

The César Awards will be held on March 12th this year. If a film has a link it goes to our review or coverage of the film or filmmaker. Here are the nominations. THIS POST HAS BEEN UPDATED WITH THE WINNERS FROM MARCH 12TH AS WELL INDICATED BY A STAR...

BEST FILM

We must assume from the nominations that Summer of 85 is in the lead. But a word of pundit caution: No François Ozon picture has ever won the top prize at the Césars though some of his best films like Under the Sand, 8 Women, In the House, and Frantz were all nominated. 

BEST DIRECTOR

Eventually they're going to have to give it to Ozon, right?

 

BEST ACTRESS

Two of Us snagged two Best Actress nods

None of the nominees have ever won so someone will get quite a reward on César night. Barbara Sukowa is of course more famous from German cinema in films like Hannah Arendt, Stefan Zweig: Fareweell to Germany, Lola, and Rosa Luxemburg. She also pops up in English language fare on occasion (Atomic Blonde, Native Son, Gloria Bell, Thirteen Conversations about one Thing)

 

BEST ACTOR

Lambert Wilson in De Gaulle

French cinema fans will know some of these names. Albert Dupontel has won writing and directing Césars but no statues for his acting yet. Sami Bouajila has starred in Oscar contenders (Days of Glory) and gay arthouse hits (The Adventures of Felix), and even an occassional English language picture (The Siege). Niels Schneider is best known to US audiences for Xavier Dolan films (I Killed My Mother, Heartbeats). And finally silver fox Lambert Wilson has been in a ton of things -- he actually made his debut in the Best Picture nominee Julia (1977) in a small role. Since then he's been in stuff like Of Gods and Men, The Matrix, Jefferson in Paris, Catwoman, and more. DeGaulle is a biopic about Charles de Gaulle, the famous French military man. Lambert has already finished shooting the next Matrix film reprising his character. Surprisingly he's never won the César. 

 

BEST FOREIGN FILM


Wow Dark Waters a year plus after its non-eventful US run. Another Round just can't stop scoring can it? Will it have a slam dunk Oscar win or is the competition going to get stronger once people view them? 

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

César favourites Noémie Lvovsky and Yolande Moreau in "How to be a Good Wife"

A category stacked with César favourites.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Fanny Ardant, Louis Garrel, and Maiwenn star in DNA (currently streaming on Netflix)

Of course you know the ubiquitous Louis Garrel who makes endless French movies and also dabbles in English language cinema (The Dreamers, Little Women)

 

BEST FEMALE NEWCOMER

Fathtia Youssouf in "Cuties"

On instagram Melissa Guers, Julia Piaton, and Fathia Youssouf

 

BEST MALE NEWCOMER

Guang Huo in "Night Ride"

Night Ride is a noir about a cab driver who gets mixed up in a stripper's wild night. Miss is a LGBTQ comedy. Alexandre Wetter plays "Alex" who enters a Miss France beauty contest. Wetter is a beauty as revealed on their Instagram page. Jean-Pascal Zadi's Instagram is followed by Juliette Binoche and Rossy de Palma :) The other three don't seem to have social media accounts.

 

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

 

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

 

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Laure Calamy in "My Donkey My Lover and I" known in France as "Antoinette dans les Cévennes"

 

BEST EDITING

 

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

 

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

 

BEST SOUND

BEST SCORE

 

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE


We're currently predicting Calamity to score an Oscar nomination... primarily because that fifth spot feels wide open at the Oscars. 

 

BEST DOCUMENTARY

 

BEST FIRST FILM

 

IF YOU'VE SEEN ANY OF THESE PICTURES, DO TELL US ABOUT THEM IN THE COMMENTS!

 

Article originally appeared on The Film Experience (http://thefilmexperience.net/).
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