The Oscar, the highest recognition in the film industry, has illuminated the careers of many French artists over the years.
From Marion Cotillard to Jean Dujardin, including lesser-known talents like Sylvain Bellemare, the French have left their mark in the history of the ceremony.
It all began in 1934, when
Claudette Colbert
received the Oscar for best actress for Frank Capra's
New York Miami
.
Although her early childhood was French, she was 7 years old when her parents emigrated in 1912, and her entire career was American.
Ernst Lubitsch, Cecil B. DeMille, John Ford, Mitchell Leisen and especially Capra gave him a Hollywood star destiny.
Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert in
New York Miami
by Frank Capra.
Copyright DR
Following this award, French cinema will have to wait more than 70 years to see one of its talents be rewarded for the leading role in a film.
In 1965,
Lila Kedrova
won the Academy Award for Best Actress in a second for
Zorba the Greek
.
In 1997, Juliette Binoche won the same award for her role in
The English Patient
.
In 2008,
Marion Cotillard
won the Oscar for best actress for her portrayal of Édith Piaf in the biographical film
La Môme
(2007), directed by Olivier Dahan.
Gérard Depardieu and Marion Cotillard in
La Môme
.
Copyright DR
The interpreter of Edith Piaf will compete with the Australian Cate Blanchett (
Elizabeth, the Golden Age
), Julie Christie (
Far From Her
), the Canadian Ellen Page (
Juno
) and the American Laura Linney (
The Family Savage
).
For many specialists, the duel will take place between Marion Cotillard and Julie Christie.
The latter won the 2008 Golden Globes for best actress in a drama film.
As for French actors, only
Jean Dujardin
will have conquered the other side of the Atlantic.
The French actor won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the silent film The Artist (2011).
Jean Dujardin in
The Artist
.
Warner Bros.
France
In total, the film won five Oscars, including Best Motion Picture Score.
Author of the music,
Ludovic Bource
was in competition against pillars of film music like John Williams, doubly nominated for
War Horse
and
The Adventures of Tintin
or
Howard Shore
(Hugo Cabret).
As for French director
Michel Hazanavicius
, he won the Oscar for best director.
Success in music
Michel Legrand
received three Oscars for best film music for
The Thomas Crown Affair
(1969),
Summer 42
(1972) and
Yentl
in 1984.
Maurice Jarre
also won three Oscars for three films by David Lean:
Lawrence d Arabia
(1963),
Doctor Zhivago
(1966) and
The Road to India
(1985).
Maurice Jarre's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles.
ROBYN BECK / AFP
More recently, composer
Alexandre Desplat
won two Oscars for best film score: for
The Grand Budapest Hotel
(2014) by Wes Anderson and for
The Shape of Water
(2017) by Guillermo del Toro.
In 2002,
Brigitte Broch
, a French production designer, won the Oscar for best artistic direction for her work on
Moulin Rouge.
Sylvain Bellemare
, French sound editor, won the Oscar for best sound editing for his work on the film
Arrival
(2016), directed by Denis Villeneuve.
Sylvain Bellemare at the Oscars ceremony in 2017. CHRISTOPHER POLK / Getty Images via AFP
Eight honorary Oscars
Failing to have been rewarded with a statuette during their career, eight French people received an honorary Oscar.
They are Charles Boyer (1943), Maurice Chevalier (1959), Henri Langlois (1974), Jean Renoir (1975), Jean-Luc Godard (2011), Jean-Claude Carrière (2015), Agnès Varda (2018) and Euzhan Palcy (2023).
The 96th edition of the Hollywood high mass will perhaps expand this list.
As a reminder,
Anatomy of a Fall
is in the running in the categories of best screenplay, film, editing, best actress and direction.
Verdict on the night of Sunday to Monday.