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Scene from »On the night of the 12th«: Terrible case, true story
Photo: CapitalPictures / action press
Dominik Moll's crime thriller »In the night of the 12th« won the French César prize for best film.
The prestigious award was presented in Paris on Friday evening.
The film by the German-born French director takes up the theme of femicide and tells the true story of an unsolved crime against a woman who was burned alive.
»On the Night of the 12th« also received five other awards, including Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay, which Moll wrote in collaboration with Gilles Marchand.
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Director Moll with the César trophy (on the left the producer Caroline Benjo)
Photo: Bertrand Guay / dpa
Dominik Moll was born in Bühl in Baden in 1962 and grew up in Baden-Baden as the son of a German father and a French mother.
He studied film in New York and Paris, where he stayed and initially worked as an assistant director to Laurent Cantet before becoming better known with his own screenplays and directing work.
His films »Harry means it well with you« (2000) and »Lemming« (2005) were also seen in German cinemas.
»In the night of the 12th.« started in Germany on January 12th.
The film about the investigation into a brutal murder of a woman is based on a true story.
The ceremony in Paris was overshadowed by heated discussions about the nominee lists, on which women were clearly in the minority.
»Last year the Oscar Academy was criticized because their nominations were so white and this year because they are so male«, explained the Collectif 50/50, which fights for equality in the French film business, with a view to the USA.
»The Césars 2023 are both together.«
In early 2020, filmmaker Roman Polanski's award for best director plunged the César Academy into a deep crisis because several women accused Polanski of rape.
The old academy leadership then resigned – also because many members complained about cheating.
In September 2020, a dual leadership with equal representation was elected – but there was no sign of parity when selecting the nominees this year.
Honorary award for Fincher
The César for best foreign film went to the thriller »As Bestas« by Spanish director Rodrigo Sorogoyen.
It is about the deadly conflict between the locals of a Spanish village and a French couple who have just moved there.
The 41-year-old director has made an international name for himself with films such as »The Power of Money« and »The Madrid Murders«.
The American director David Fincher, who personally accepted the award, received the honorary César.
The 60-year-old's best-known films include "Sieben", "Fight Club", "The Game" and "Mank".
Hollywood star Brad Pitt, with whom Fincher has made several films, appeared as a surprise guest.
The encounter with Fincher changed his life, he is a perfectionist, said Pitt, who was received with an ovation.
He admires him.
The César - named after the sculptor César Baldaccini - is the French version of the Oscar film awards.
It has been awarded since 1976.
feb/dpa/AFP