Will the Caesars 2020 avoid chaos? After weeks of controversy that went crescendo, the 45th edition of the great mass of French cinema opens this Friday at 9 p.m. Will we be witnessing the umpteenth settling of scores in a divided profession? Or will the prize list allow, on the contrary, to re-join the ranks and to recall and exalt the magic of cinema? Bets are open while a top five stands out: 8 nominations for Grâce à Dieu and Hors Normes , 10 for Portrait of the young girl on fire , 11 for La Belle Époque 12 for Les Misérables (if we count the César of the public) and J'accuse , one of the roots of the current upheavals.
Collage in front of the Académie des César. BERTRAND GUAY / AFP
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Until the end, these Césars, whose host Florence Foresti and mistress of ceremony Sandrine Kiberlain, will have recorded earthquakes. After Roman Polanski, the producer of J'accuse , Alain Goldman, announced in turn Friday afternoon that neither he nor the film crew, including Jean Dujardin, would go to Salle Pleyel, because of " the escalation of inappropriate and violent language and behavior ” .
Feminist associations are there and asked to be present and speak during the ceremony. This was denied to them. Matt Finance / Le Figaro
Several feminist associations, including #NousToutes and Dare Feminism, called for a rally at 6 p.m. In the morning, the Minister of Culture Franck Riester estimated that a César for best director for Roman Polanksi would be “a bad symbol compared to the necessary awareness that we must all have in the fight against sexual and gender-based violence ". On the other hand, the tenant of the rue de Valois did not see any inconvenience with a César of better film, estimating that “J'accuse” is the work of a “team” and that there is “no reason to penalize the collective ”.
A list of achievements to bring out a new generation?
The rejection of the 12 appointments of J'accuse , because of the new accusations of rape against Roman Polanski, is only the origin of part of the wind of revolt which shakes the Academy of Caesar. Since mid-January, the management of its president, Alain Terzian has been disputed, forcing the latter to resign as a whole with his board of directors. Margaret Menegoz who, during her long career producing Jean-Claude Brisseau, the late director of Noces Blanches condemned for sexual harassment, is appointed as interim president of the Academy. While waiting for the National Cinema Center to deeply modify this system, considered by many in the seventh art to be clan.
Also: Margaret Menegoz, Interim President of the Cesars
Collateral victim of these tensions, the Honorary Cesar. Alain Terzian intended it for Jane Fonda who proved to be retained in Washington. His departure did not allow him to find a replacement. Brad Pitt and Meryl Streep would have been approached but would have declined this distinction (this is the first year since the creation of the Césars that it will not be awarded). In addition, remitters have also become scarce.
Depending on the nature of the winners, the revival could be expressed this evening. The 4,313 voters of the Caesars can distinguish with their votes a new generation of directors and themes: Ladj Ly for Les Misérables , Céline Sciamma for Portrait of the young girl on fire . Uncompromising portrait of a police blunder, exaltation of the female gaze or denunciation of abuses in the Church with Grâce à Dieu by François Ozon, several contenders for the statuette of the best film carry strong messages.
Read also: César: "To distinguish Polanski is to spit in the face of all the victims", according to Adèle Haenel
Designating Adèle Haenel as best actress for her performance in Portrait of the young girl on fire would also be a symbol. The actress, who already has two Caesars on her shelf, has become the icon of a hexagonal #MeToo since she accused director Christophe Ruggia in November of "repeated touching" when she was a teenager. However, the actress faces an ultra-competitive category, especially against her partner in the Sciamma film, Noémie Merlant. And it should be remembered that the electoral body of the Caesars is not equal, men are the majority. Conversely, a shower of Caesar for J'accuse would transform the Salle Pleyel into a real powder keg.
Whatever the winners, from the spotlights off, the Caesars will really have to start their moult. The interim president, Margaret Menegoz, and an extraordinary general assembly will be held on April 20 to adopt new statutes. In addition to the functioning of the Academy, there are many complaints, such as the petition signed by the # BlackCésars collective who regret a too white French cinema which confines its colored actors to "insignificant roles" . As Nicolas Bedos sums it up, "healthy and nuanced discussions would be necessary".