César Awards 2021: Meet the Best Film nominees

France’s César Awards celebrate the best of the country’s film industry. Find out which five movies are up for Best Film

Despite a very challenging year, the film industry’s awards season is in full swing, and the nominations for France’s César Awards 2021 have been unveiled. The César Awards are given out by the French film body Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma. There are 21 merit awards (Best Film, Best Actor, Best Documentary and the like) as well as special awards such as the César du Public. Here are the five Best Film nominees for this year’s César Awards – how many have you watched?

Adieu les cons

Director: Albert Dupontel

When hairdresser Suze (Virginie Efira) discovers she’s seriously ill, she embarks on a wild quest to find her long-lost child with the help of a burned-out man and a blind archivist. Actor-director Dupontel dedicated the film to the late Terry Jones of Monty Python fame, as the legendary comedian had appeared in two of his previous films.

Where to watch: Currently unavailable in the UK

Adolescentes

Director: Sébastien Lifshitz

This art-house documentary follows two teenage girls from the ages of 13 to 18 as they grow up in Brive-la-Gaillarde, south-west France. Emma and Anaïs are best friends from two different social backgrounds and the film follows their contrasting school and home lives as they progress through high school. If you liked Richard Linklater’s Boyhood, you’ll probably like this too.

Where to watch: Available on the BFI Player

Antoinette dans les Cévennes (My Donkey, My Lover and I)

Director: Caroline Vignal

A lovelorn teacher and her stubborn donkey embark on a trek through the Cévennes in this zany comedy starring the brilliant Laure Calmy (Call my Agent!). Calmy’s character, the eponymous Antoinette, is having an affair with a student’s father, and is gutted to find their romantic getaway is cancelled for his family holiday in the Cévennes with his wife, daughter and a donkey. Naturally, Antoinette decides to follow in his footsteps, and hilarity ensues.

Where to watch: Available on MUBI

Les choses qu’on dit, les choses qu’on fait (Love Affair(s))

Director: Emmanuel Mouret

This year’s most-nominated film, with 13 nominations to its name, is Mouret’s tenth film as a director, following 2018’s period drama Mademoiselle de Joncquières. This time his directorial gaze focuses on modern relationships and the practicalities of love. Les choses qu’on dit feels more developed than your standard romcom; this is a Love Actually-esque series of interlinking love stories with an excellent ensemble cast including Camélia Jordana and Nils Schneider.

Where to watch: Available on Leeds Film Player

Été 85 (Summer of ‘85)

Director: François Ozon

This adaptation of Aidan Chambers’ 1982 young adult novel Dance On My Grave is a beautifully shot portrait of young love. A love triangle unfolds on the glorious Normandy coast, captured on Super 16mm film. After teenager Alex is rescued from a sailing mishap by the older David, the pair’s friendship blossoms into something more. But when English au pair Kate arrives on the scene, things are thrown off balance.

Where to watch: Available on Curzon Home Cinema

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