"Men and Gods," by Xavier Beauvois and "The Ghost Writer" by Roman Polanski are the big winners of the 36th Cesar ceremony of French cinema, presented Friday night in Paris.
"Gainsbourg (heroic life)," Joann Sfar's first film, has also been awarded three times in a balanced place winners during an evening of almost three hours by Antoine de Caunes and chaired by American actress Jodie Foster.
Named best film, "Men and Gods" tells the story of Tibhirine monks murdered in Algeria in 1996.Spiritual work and demanding already seen by 3.2 million viewers, she received three Caesar, in addition to the Grand Jury Prize at last received the Cannes festival.
In his speech, Xavier Beauvois had a thought for the filmmaker Francois Truffaut and referred to the 2012 presidential election in France.
"I do not want that in capmagne election happens, we speak ill of the French Muslims, I want people to be with them is the lesson of this film," he said.
"Men and Gods" also earned the César for best supporting actor Michael Lonsdale for his luminous incarnation of a physician-monk, Brother Luke.
"Better late than never," said the actor rewarded in this way for the first time in nearly 80 years.
Awarded four times, including the Cesar for best director, "The Ghost Writer" allows Polanski to return to light after a year marked by legal troubles that forced him to spend several months under house arrest.
Franco-Polish filmmaker was freed last July after the refusal of Switzerland to extradite to the United States, where the court wanted to hear for a sex scandal.
"The Ghost Writer," who made a million entries, tells the story of a negro literary hired to complete the memoirs of British Prime Minister.
Politico-sentimental comedy by Michel Leclerc "The name of the people" received two statuettes, one for Sara Forestier, voted best actress. The young woman was particularly competing against Catherine Deneuve, heroine of the comedy "Potiche.
The Cesar for best first film was awarded "Gainsbourg, heroic life," by Joann Sfar, who runs the fantastic tone of the story the story of the singer Serge Gainsbourg, who died 20 years ago.Reincarnated on the screen, Eric Elmosnino, was crowned best actor on Friday night.
The Cesar for Best Actress was awarded to Leila Bekhti for "All That Glitters" and Best Male Newcomer went to Edgar Ramirez to Carlos, the film ".
The Cesar for best foreign film was awarded "The Social Network" by David Fincher, one of the favorites for the Oscars which will be held Sunday in Los Angeles.
For the first time, the Academy of Caesar rewarded an animated film.The prize went to "the Illusionist", work by Sylvain Chomet based on a script by Jacques Tati unfinished.
The Cesar for best short film was crowned "Logorama", already awarded last year in Hollywood for the Oscar for best short animated film.
Special tributes were paid to film greats missing last year: the actor and director Bernard Giraudeau, Alain Corneau and filmmakers Claude Chabrol.
A Caesar of honor was awarded to American director Quentin Tarantino. The creator of "Pulp Fiction" and "Jackie Brown" ended his acceptance speech by three French words uttered with enthusiasm: "Vive le cinema!"
