Arcand triumphs

by Fabien Lemercier

22/02/2004 - The filmmaker from Quebec, Denys Arcand triumphed with his film Barbarian Invasions [trailer] at the 29th edition of the Césars, which were awarded at a ceremony at the Châtelet theatre in Paris on February 21, 2004. The feature film had already won two prizes at the Cannes Film Festival, and the co-production by the French company Pyramide has now picked up a further 3 major awards, for Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay. The other favourites, Bon voyage [trailer] and Pas sur la bouche had to be contented with three awards each, though in the minor categories. The ceremony for the French cinema awards also saw a double win for the actress Julie Depardieu, who came away with Best Young Actress award and Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Lili, a feat that has only previously been matched by Richard Anconina in 1984. The Best European film at the 2004 Cesars.

Omar Sharif came away with the César for Best Actor, and Darry Cowl won as Best Supporting Actor. There were also awards for the hot favourites, Sylvie Testud (Best Actress), Goodbye Lenin! by Wolfgang Becker (Best European Film) and Since Otar Left by Julie Bertuccelli (Best First Work). Other awards worth noting include the César for editing won by Lucas Belvaux's trilogy, a French-Belgium co-production (Agat Films & Cie/Entre Chien et Loup).

The complete list of the 2004 Césars

Best Film
Barbarian Invasions [trailer] by Denys Arcand

Best Actor
Omar Sharif in Monsieur Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran [trailer]

Best Actress
Sylvie Testud in fear and Trembling [trailer]

Best Director
Denys Arcand for Barbarian Invasions [trailer]

Best Supporting Actor
Darry Cowl in Pas sur la bouche

Best Supporting Actress
Julie Depardieu in Lili

Best Young Actor
Grégori Derangère in Bon voyage [trailer]

Best Young Actress
Julie Depardieu in Lili

Best First Work
Since Otar Left by Julie Bertuccelli

Best European Film
Goodbye Lenin! [trailer] by Wolfgang Becker

Best Sound
Jean-Marie Blondel, Gérard Hardy and Gérard Lamps in Pas sur la bouche

Best Original Screenplay
Denys Arcand for Barbarian Invasions [trailer]

Best Film Soundtrack
Benoît Charest for Belleville Rendez-Vous [trailer]

Best Photography
Thierry Arbogast for Bon voyage [trailer]

Best Costumes
Jackie Budin for Pas sur la bouche

Best Foreign Film
Mystic River by Clint Eastwood

Best Art Design
Jacques Rouxel and Catherine Leterrier for Bon voyage [trailer]

Best Editing
Danielle Anezin, Valérie Loiseleux and Ludo Troch for Cavale [trailer]-Après la vie [trailer]-Un couple épatant [trailer]: une trilogie

Best Short Film
L'homme sans tête by Juan Solanas

(Translated from French)