César Award - Best French Film
by thierry-05295 | created - 6 months ago | updated - 6 months ago | PublicThe César Award is the national film award of France, first given out in 1975. The nominations are selected by the members of the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma. The name of the award comes from the sculptor César Baldaccini. They are considered to be the French equivalent of the American Academy Awards.
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1. The Old Gun (1975)
R | 103 min | Drama, Thriller, War
During World War II, a peaceful French surgeon decides to ruthlessly exterminate an SS squad because of the atrocities they'd just committed in his countryside home and childhood village.
Director: Robert Enrico | Stars: Philippe Noiret, Romy Schneider, Jean Bouise, Joachim Hansen
Votes: 4,855
2. Mr. Klein (1976)
PG | 123 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
In German-occupied Paris, an immoral art dealer, Robert Klein, leads a life of luxury, until a copy of a Jewish newspaper brings him to the attention of the police, linking him with a mysterious doppelgänger. Will Mr. Klein clear his name?
Director: Joseph Losey | Stars: Alain Delon, Jeanne Moreau, Francine Bergé, Juliet Berto
Votes: 8,894 | Gross: $0.03M
3. Providence (1977)
R | 104 min | Drama
A dying writer bases his last book on his own perception of his family.
Director: Alain Resnais | Stars: Dirk Bogarde, Ellen Burstyn, John Gielgud, David Warner
Votes: 3,506
4. L'argent des autres (1978)
105 min | Drama
A bank employee tries to clear his name after he is unfairly fired.
Director: Christian de Chalonge | Stars: Jean-Louis Trintignant, Catherine Deneuve, Laura Kornbluh, Michèle Kornbluh
Votes: 553
5. Tess (1979)
PG | 186 min | Drama, Romance
A strong-willed young peasant girl attracts the affection of two men.
Director: Roman Polanski | Stars: Nastassja Kinski, Peter Firth, Leigh Lawson, John Collin
Votes: 18,263
6. The Last Metro (1980)
PG | 131 min | Drama, Romance, War
In occupied Paris, an actress married to a Jewish theater owner must keep him hidden from the Germans while doing both of their jobs.
Director: François Truffaut | Stars: Catherine Deneuve, Gérard Depardieu, Jean Poiret, Andréa Ferréol
Votes: 15,817
7. Quest for Fire (1981)
R | 100 min | Adventure, Drama
This story takes place in prehistoric time when three tribesmen search for a new fire source.
Director: Jean-Jacques Annaud | Stars: Everett McGill, Ron Perlman, Nicholas Kadi, Rae Dawn Chong
Votes: 24,120 | Gross: $20.96M
8. La balance (1982)
R | 102 min | Crime, Drama, Romance
Police compel a couple of criminals to become its informants.
Director: Bob Swaim | Stars: Nathalie Baye, Philippe Léotard, Richard Berry, Maurice Ronet
Votes: 1,323
9. Le Bal (1983)
109 min | History, Musical
Dance moves, music and fashion mark the passage of time inside a Paris dance hall, throughout fifty years of history.
Director: Ettore Scola | Stars: Étienne Guichard, Régis Bouquet, Francesco De Rosa, Arnault LeCarpentier
Votes: 3,031
10. To Our Loves (1983)
R | 99 min | Drama, Romance
An erratic young woman's family desperately tries to prevent her increasingly erotic ways.
Director: Maurice Pialat | Stars: Sandrine Bonnaire, Maurice Pialat, Christophe Odent, Dominique Besnehard
Votes: 7,263
11. My New Partner (1984)
R | 107 min | Comedy, Crime
A moderately corrupt veteran policeman teaches the art of bribes to his young partner. The rookie turns out to be an extremely capable student, and soon overtakes the teacher.
Director: Claude Zidi | Stars: Philippe Noiret, Thierry Lhermitte, Régine, Grace de Capitani
Votes: 4,986
12. Three Men and a Cradle (1985)
PG-13 | 106 min | Comedy
Jacques, Pierre, and Michel are three adult friends who enjoy single life until they find themselves stuck with a baby.
Director: Coline Serreau | Stars: Roland Giraud, Michel Boujenah, André Dussollier, Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu
Votes: 3,948 | Gross: $2.05M
13. Thérèse (1986)
94 min | Drama
A story of life of St. Therese of Lisieux.
Director: Alain Cavalier | Stars: Catherine Mouchet, Hélène Alexandridis, Aurore Prieto, Clémence Massart-Weit
Votes: 993
14. Goodbye, Children (1987)
PG | 104 min | Drama, War
A French boarding school run by priests seems to be a haven from World War II until a new student arrives. Occupying the next bed in the dormitory to the top student in his class, the two young boys begin to form a bond.
Director: Louis Malle | Stars: Gaspard Manesse, Raphael Fejtö, Francine Racette, Stanislas Carré de Malberg
Votes: 36,113 | Gross: $4.54M
15. Camille Claudel (1988)
R | 175 min | Biography, Drama, History
Camille Claude impresses already-famous sculptor Auguste Rodin. He hires her as an assistant, but soon Camille begins to sculpt for herself and she also becomes his mistress. But after a while, she would like to get out of his shadow.
Director: Bruno Nuytten | Stars: Isabelle Adjani, Gérard Depardieu, Madeleine Robinson, Laurent Grévill
Votes: 7,395 | Gross: $0.20M
16. Too Beautiful for You (1989)
R | 91 min | Drama, Romance
A sharp love triangle is formed by a wealthy businessman.
Director: Bertrand Blier | Stars: Gérard Depardieu, Josiane Balasko, Carole Bouquet, François Cluzet
Votes: 3,018 | Gross: $1.78M
17. Cyrano de Bergerac (1990)
PG | 137 min | Comedy, Drama, History
Famed swordsman and poet Cyrano de Bergerac is in love with his cousin Roxane. He has never expressed his love for her as he his large nose undermines his self-confidence. Then he finds a way to express his love to her, indirectly.
Director: Jean-Paul Rappeneau | Stars: Gérard Depardieu, Anne Brochet, Vincent Perez, Jacques Weber
Votes: 25,941 | Gross: $15.14M
18. Tous les matins du monde (1991)
Not Rated | 115 min | Biography, Drama, History
The story of Monsieur de Sainte Colombe, fierce and somber man, grand master of the viola da gamba and professor of Marin Marais, prestigious musician in the court of Louis XIV.
Director: Alain Corneau | Stars: Gérard Depardieu, Jean-Pierre Marielle, Anne Brochet, Guillaume Depardieu
Votes: 7,939 | Gross: $3.09M
19. Savage Nights (1992)
126 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
Jean is 30 years old. He lives with Laura, 17 years old, a violent and eventful love story. He learns that he is HIV positive.
Director: Cyril Collard | Stars: Cyril Collard, Romane Bohringer, Carlos López, Corine Blue
Votes: 2,415 | Gross: $0.66M
20. Smoking/No Smoking (1993)
298 min | Comedy, Drama
An examination of the possible consequences of a certain event.
Director: Alain Resnais | Stars: Sabine Azéma, Pierre Arditi, Peter Hudson
Votes: 1,932 | Gross: $0.06M
21. Wild Reeds (1994)
Not Rated | 110 min | Drama
The fates of two partners are divided.
Director: André Téchiné | Stars: Élodie Bouchez, Gaël Morel, Stéphane Rideau, Frédéric Gorny
Votes: 6,641 | Gross: $0.92M
22. La haine (1995)
Not Rated | 98 min | Crime, Drama
24 hours in the lives of three young men in the French suburbs the day after a violent riot.
Director: Mathieu Kassovitz | Stars: Vincent Cassel, Hubert Koundé, Saïd Taghmaoui, Abdel Ahmed Ghili
Votes: 196,361 | Gross: $0.31M
23. Ridicule (1996)
R | 102 min | Comedy, Drama, History
To get royal backing on a needed drainage project, a poor French lord must learn to play the delicate games of wit at court at Versailles.
Director: Patrice Leconte | Stars: Charles Berling, Jean Rochefort, Fanny Ardant, Judith Godrèche
Votes: 8,182 | Gross: $2.50M
24. Same Old Song (1997)
120 min | Comedy, Drama, Musical
A musical story about how people find their love on the streets of beautiful Paris.
Director: Alain Resnais | Stars: Pierre Arditi, Sabine Azéma, Jean-Pierre Bacri, André Dussollier
Votes: 4,468 | Gross: $0.03M
25. The Dreamlife of Angels (1998)
R | 113 min | Drama
The lives of two dissimilar girls turned out in different ways.
Director: Erick Zonca | Stars: Élodie Bouchez, Natacha Régnier, Grégoire Colin, Patrick Mercado
Votes: 7,767 | Gross: $1.73M
26. Venus Beauty Institute (1999)
R | 105 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Employees of a beauty parlor in search of love and happiness.
Director: Tonie Marshall | Stars: Nathalie Baye, Bulle Ogier, Samuel Le Bihan, Jacques Bonnaffé
Votes: 4,408 | Gross: $0.42M
27. The Taste of Others (2000)
R | 112 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
The lives of 6 people over 35 in Rouen, France, and their relationship to each other.
Director: Agnès Jaoui | Stars: Anne Alvaro, Jean-Pierre Bacri, Alain Chabat, Agnès Jaoui
Votes: 10,366 | Gross: $0.64M
28. Amélie (2001)
R | 122 min | Comedy, Romance
Despite being caught in her imaginative world, Amelie, a young waitress, decides to help people find happiness. Her quest to spread joy leads her on a journey where she finds true love.
Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet | Stars: Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz, Rufus, Lorella Cravotta
Votes: 794,090 | Gross: $33.23M
29. The Pianist (2002)
R | 150 min | Biography, Drama, Music
During WWII, acclaimed Polish musician Wladyslaw faces various struggles as he loses contact with his family. As the situation worsens, he hides in the ruins of Warsaw in order to survive.
Director: Roman Polanski | Stars: Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Frank Finlay, Emilia Fox
Votes: 911,906 | Gross: $32.57M
30. The Barbarian Invasions (2003)
R | 99 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
During his final days, a dying man is reunited with old friends, former lovers, his ex-wife, and his estranged son.
Director: Denys Arcand | Stars: Rémy Girard, Dorothée Berryman, Stéphane Rousseau, Marie-Josée Croze
Votes: 30,033 | Gross: $3.43M
31. Games of Love and Chance (2003)
123 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Krimo a 15 years old shy boy falls in love for Lídia who is his classmate.To be able to assume his love for her he decides to take a part in the play that was to be one of his friends.
Director: Abdellatif Kechiche | Stars: Osman Elkharraz, Sara Forestier, Sabrina Ouazani, Nanou Benhamou
Votes: 3,250 | Gross: $0.01M
32. The Beat That My Heart Skipped (2005)
Not Rated | 108 min | Crime, Drama, Music
Will Thomas still lead a life of crime and cruelty, just like his thuggish father, or will he pursue his dream of becoming a pianist?
Director: Jacques Audiard | Stars: Romain Duris, Aure Atika, Emmanuelle Devos, Niels Arestrup
Votes: 20,493 | Gross: $1.02M
33. Lady Chatterley (2006)
R | 168 min | Drama, Romance
A French adaptation of the second (and much less well-known) version of D.H. Lawrence's erotic tale.
Director: Pascale Ferran | Stars: Marina Hands, Jean-Louis Coulloc'h, Hippolyte Girardot, Hélène Alexandridis
Votes: 4,772 | Gross: $0.69M
34. The Secret of the Grain (2007)
Not Rated | 151 min | Drama
In southern France, a Franco-Arabic shipyard worker along with his partner's daughter pursues his dream of opening a restaurant.
Director: Abdellatif Kechiche | Stars: Habib Boufares, Hafsia Herzi, Farida Benkhetache, Abdelhamid Aktouche
Votes: 7,907 | Gross: $0.09M
35. Seraphine (2008)
Unrated | 125 min | Biography, Drama
In 1912 German collector Wilhelm Uhde rents a flat in Senlis to write and take a break from Parisian life. He hires a 48-year old cleaning lady, Séraphine. Some time later, he notices a small painting on wood at a local notable home.
Director: Martin Provost | Stars: Yolande Moreau, Ulrich Tukur, Anne Bennent, Geneviève Mnich
Votes: 6,544 | Gross: $0.88M
36. A Prophet (2009)
R | 155 min | Crime, Drama
A delinquent Muslim man struggles to get by in prison until he is taken under the wing of a powerful mob boss. But his gradual rise through the mob's ranks brings him in conflict with his mentor.
Director: Jacques Audiard | Stars: Tahar Rahim, Niels Arestrup, Adel Bencherif, Reda Kateb
Votes: 102,174 | Gross: $2.08M
37. Of Gods and Men (2010)
PG-13 | 122 min | Drama, History
Under threat by fundamentalist terrorists, a group of Trappist monks stationed with an impoverished Algerian community must decide whether to leave or stay.
Director: Xavier Beauvois | Stars: Lambert Wilson, Michael Lonsdale, Olivier Rabourdin, Philippe Laudenbach
Votes: 16,094 | Gross: $3.95M
38. The Artist (I) (2011)
PG-13 | 100 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
When George, a silent movie superstar, meets Peppy Miller, a dancer, sparks fly between the two. However, after the introduction of talking pictures, their fortunes change, affecting their dynamic.
Director: Michel Hazanavicius | Stars: Jean Dujardin, Bérénice Bejo, John Goodman, James Cromwell
Votes: 248,582 | Gross: $44.67M
39. Amour (2012)
PG-13 | 127 min | Drama
Georges and Anne are an octogenarian couple. They are cultivated, retired music teachers. Their daughter, also a musician, lives in Britain with her family. One day, Anne has a stroke, and the couple's bond of love is severely tested.
Director: Michael Haneke | Stars: Jean-Louis Trintignant, Emmanuelle Riva, Isabelle Huppert, Alexandre Tharaud
Votes: 105,675 | Gross: $6.74M
40. Me, Myself and Mum (2013)
TV-MA | 85 min | Comedy
A young man named Guillaume finds out that own personality is not such a simple thing.
Director: Guillaume Gallienne | Stars: Guillaume Gallienne, André Marcon, Françoise Fabian, Nanou Garcia
Votes: 8,044
41. Timbuktu (2014)
PG-13 | 96 min | Drama, War
A cattle herder and his family who reside in the dunes of Timbuktu find their quiet lives -- which are typically free of the Jihadists determined to control their faith -- abruptly disturbed.
Director: Abderrahmane Sissako | Stars: Ibrahim Ahmed, Abel Jafri, Toulou Kiki, Layla Walet Mohamed
Votes: 18,281 | Gross: $1.08M
42. Fatima (I) (2015)
Not Rated | 79 min | Drama, Family
An immigrant mother realizes that her daughters become estranged.
Director: Philippe Faucon | Stars: Soria Zeroual, Zita Hanrot, Kenza Noah Aïche, Chawki Amari
Votes: 1,500 | Gross: $0.05M
43. Elle (I) (2016)
R | 130 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
A successful businesswoman gets caught up in a game of cat and mouse as she tracks down the unknown man who raped her.
Director: Paul Verhoeven | Stars: Isabelle Huppert, Laurent Lafitte, Anne Consigny, Charles Berling
Votes: 71,133
44. 120 BPM (2017)
Not Rated | 143 min | Drama
Members of the advocacy group ACT UP Paris demand action by the government and pharmaceutical companies to combat the AIDS epidemic in the early 1990s.
Director: Robin Campillo | Stars: Nahuel Pérez Biscayart, Arnaud Valois, Adèle Haenel, Antoine Reinartz
Votes: 16,738 | Gross: $0.13M
45. Custody (2017)
93 min | Drama, Thriller
A broken marriage leads to a bitter custody battle with an embattled son at the centre.
Director: Xavier Legrand | Stars: Léa Drucker, Denis Ménochet, Thomas Gioria, Mathilde Auneveux
Votes: 10,318 | Gross: $0.08M
46. Les Misérables (2019)
R | 104 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
A cop from the provinces moves to Paris to join the Anti-Crime Brigade of Montfermeil, discovering an underworld where the tensions between the different groups mark the rhythm.
Director: Ladj Ly | Stars: Damien Bonnard, Alexis Manenti, Djebril Zonga, Issa Perica
Votes: 28,286 | Gross: $0.33M
47. Bye Bye Morons (2020)
87 min | Comedy, Drama
A seriously-ill woman tries to find her long-lost child with the help of a man in the middle of a burnout and a blind archivist.
Director: Albert Dupontel | Stars: Virginie Efira, Albert Dupontel, Nicolas Marié, Jackie Berroyer
Votes: 6,822
48. Lost Illusions (2021)
149 min | Drama, Romance
Lucien de Rubempré, a young, lower-class poet, leaves his family's printing house for Paris. Soon, he learns the dark side of the arts business as he tries to stay true to his dreams.
Director: Xavier Giannoli | Stars: Benjamin Voisin, Cécile de France, Vincent Lacoste, Xavier Dolan
Votes: 6,346
49. The Night of the 12th (2022)
115 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
It is said that every investigator has a crime that haunts them, a case that hurts him more than the others, without him necessarily knowing why. For Yohan that case is the murder of Clara.
Director: Dominik Moll | Stars: Bastien Bouillon, Bouli Lanners, Théo Cholbi, Johann Dionnet
Votes: 9,534
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