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French honour for Redford’s American in Paris

César awards for domestic violence drama and Audiard’s Western

by Richard Mowe

Robert Redford receives his honorary César from Kristin Scott Thomas at the César awards ceremony in Paris Photo: Canal+

Robert Redford received a standing ovation when he appeared in the Salle Pleyel in Paris to receive an honorary César for the sum of his career from Kristin Scott Thomas as part of a marathon ceremony last night (22 February) - France’s answer to the Oscars.

Best New Actress - Kenza Fortas for Scheherazade Photo: Canal+

Redford, clearly moved by the reception, recalled his youthful first foray to the City of Light as an 18-year-old when he tried to blend in to the background by wearing a beret until he was rumbled by a local as an American tourist. He had his sketchbook with him and spent his time drawing in bars and cafés - and inventing stories for the people he encountered. He headed for the south of France and slept under a pier on the beach at Cannes. Some 17 years later he was back in Cannes for the Festival but he recalled his youthful self. “The older I get,” said the 82-year-old who has announced he is retiring from acting, “the faster the time passes. But in many ways these experiences in France helped to shape me.”

First time director Xavier Legrand took the main prize evening for best film for Custody for which he had also received best original screenplay while his lead actress Lea Drucker took best female performance gong. The film which is a powerful account of domestic violence, was nominated in ten categories.

Elsewhere Jacques Audiard’s Western The Sisters Brothers with John C Reilly, Joaquin Phoenix and Jack Gyllenhaal won him Best Director for his first film in English.

Best actor César went to Alex Lutz who directs himself in Guy, the story of a young journalist, Gauthier, who discovers that his real father is Guy Jamet, a French singer who found fame in the 1960s.

Gilles Lellouche’s Sink Or Swim which was a big box office hit, won a best supporting actor award for Philippe Katerine for his performance in a comedy about a group of men tackling a midlife crisis and swim their way out.

Those awards in full:-

Best Film