French Cinema and the Oscars: A Love Story
Wednesday, December 11, 2019 at 9:00PM 
France is the most-nominated country in the History of the Best International Feature Oscar, having conquered 39 nods over the decades. They'll probably up that number soon with Ladj Ly's Les Misérables. The likeliness of a nomination doesn't mean the selection of the country's Oscar submission was without controversy. Many a cinephile thinks Céline Sciamma's Portrait of a Lady on Fire was more deserving. Without the benefit of being in the race for that particular trophy, the much-lauded period lesbian romance is likely to receive no Oscar love, even though it's eligible for most other categories
While it's rare for French films to be recognized outside the Best International Feature race, it's not unheard of. Since the beginning of the Academy Awards, 53 films have done so. That's not including documentaries or short films (or the number would be yet more inflated) . The Oscars may be very local in their tastes, but they've always shown a bit of Francophilia…
After perusing the History of the Academy Awards, I've come up with some interesting data. Let's start by listing the most nominated French Films ever. Here are the 11 most nominated French productions, in chronological order.
THE UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG (1964)
5 nominations, 0 wins
- Best Original Screenplay (Jacques Demy)
- Best Original Score (Michel Legrand & Jacques Demy)
- Best Score, Adaptation or Treatment (Michel Legrand)
- Best Original Song (Michel Legrand & Jacques Demy)
- Best Foreign Film
A MAN AND A WOMAN (1966)
4 nominations, 2 wins
- Best Director (Claude Lelouch)
- Best Actress (Anouk Aimée)
- Best Original Screenplay (Claude Lelouch & Pierre Uytterhoeven) – winner
- Best Foreign Film - winner
DAY FOR NIGHT (1973)
4 nominations, 1 win
- Best Director (François Truffaut)
- Best Supporting Actress (Valentina Cortese)
- Best Original Screenplay (François Truffaut, Jean-Louis Richard & Suzanne Schiffman)
- Best Foreign Film - winner
LA CAGE AUX FOLLES (1978)
3 nominations, 0 wins
- Best Director (Édouard Molinaro)
- Best Adapted Screenplay (Francis Veber, Édouard Molinaro Marcello Danon & jean Poiret)
- Best Costume Design (Piero Tosi & Ambra Danon)
CYRANO DE BERGERAC (1990)
5 nominations, 1 win
- Best Actor (Gérard Depardieu)
- Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Ezio Frigerio & Jacques Rouxel)
- Best Costume Design (Franca Squarciapino) – winner
- Best Makeup (Michele Burke & Jean-Pierre Eychenne)
- Best Foreign Film
THREE COLORS: RED (1994)
3 nominations, 0 wins
- Best Director (Krzysztof Kieslowski)
- Best Original Screenplay (Krzysztof Kieslowski & Krzysztof Piesiewicz)
- Best Cinematography (Piotr Sobocinski)
AMÉLIE (2001)
5 nominations, 0 wins
- Best Original Screenplay (Guillaime Laurant & Jean-Pierre Jeunet)
- Best Cinematography (Bruno Delbonnel)
- Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Aline Bonetto & Marie-Laure Valla)
- Best Sound (Vincent Arnardi, Guillaime Leriche & Jean Umansky)
- Best Foreign Film
LA VIE EN ROSE (2007)
3 nominations, 2 wins
- Best Actress (Marion Cotillard) – winner
- Best Costume Design (Marti Allen)
- Best Makeup (Didier Lavergne & Jan Archibald) – winner
THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY (2007)
4 nominations, 0 wins
- Best Director (Julian Schnabel)
- Best Adapted Screenplay (Ronald Harwood)
- Best Editing (Juliette Welfling)
- Best Cinematography (Janusz Kaminski)
AMOUR (2012)
5 nominations, 1 win
- Best Picture (Stefan Arndt, Margaret Ménégoz, Veit Heiduschka & Michael Katz)
- Best Director (Michael Haneke)
- Best Actress (Emmanuelle Riva)
- Best Original Screenplay (Michael Haneke)
- Best Foreign Film - winner
If you're wondering which category French cinema shows up the most often outside of Foreign Film, that's Best Original Screenplay. More than 20 such films have been nominated and two (1956's The Red Balloon & 1966's A Man and a Woman) even won the prize. Weirdly enough, considering the acting categories' usual tendencies, Best Actress is the second most popular category for French productions. Seven actresses have been nominated on nine different occasions, the most recent being Isabelle Huppert for Elle.
In an ideal world, Portrait of a Lady on Fire might be a strong contender for both those categories. However, such utopias are mere fantasies and the fact is Sciamma's latest wonder is likelier to get some love in the craft categories. Best Cinematography is its best hope. If nominated, Claire Mathon would be just the second nominated woman in the category's history, but the film wouldn't be the first French production to receive the stamp of approval from the cinematographer's branch. It would be the fifth, after Three Colors: Red, Amélie, A Very Long Engagement and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.
Can Portrait of a Lady on Fire overcome the Oscars' traditional aversion to non-English language works?
Reader Comments (23)
It is playing in theatres now so if people see the movie, it has a chance. Remember who all those foreign films crept into the categories last year? (Cold War, Never Look Away, Roma)
Oops. A couple missed
1962 Sundays and Cybele
Foreign film (Winner)
Music (Maurice Jarre)
Writing (Serge Bourguignon and Antoine Tudal)
1976 Cousin, Cousine
Best Actress (Marie-Christine Barrault)
Writing (Jean-Charles Tacchella and Daniele Thompson)
Foreign Film
The funny thing is those aren't exactly the cream of the crop of French cinema (despite some good ones). Fingers crossed PORTRAIT gets in for Cinematography!
I am 100% sure this won't happen but I wish both Adèle Haenel and Noémie Merlant get nominated as a tandem in Portrait of a Lady on Fire the way Léa Seydoux and Adèle Exarchopoulos were awarded the Palme d'Or alongside the director. I am sure if nominating tandems become a trend, it will mess up a few other things in the performance category.
Cinematography, screenplay and art direction might happen.
I believe "Portrait of a Lady on Fire" has good chances in Best Costume Design, but (mainly) for Best Cinematography.
Right now there's some controversy because of the lack of awards love towards female directors' movies and some people have already spoken about the importance of embracing women in a men's industry - that's why I think the AMPAS will go for Claire Manthon's work in this one. Not only she's deserving, but she also benefits from the controversy.
Sometimes it is just good to discuss topics like gender equality in Hollywood and in "workplace" in general.
This is the most beautiful film of the year. I think it's a smart move of France. They submitted Les Miserable for Foreign category because they also wanted Portrait compete in other categories: director, actress, screenplay and cinematography
Neon has completely botched its release.
It’s apparently joining the Criterion Collection next year though.
I think Cinematography and Costume Design are most likely (but no guarantee). If directors rally, Celine Sciamma could be a shock nominee in best director (I'm sure the international contingent of the directors branch came through for Pawlikowski last year for Cold War - so maybe they can do the same this year). Can't wait to see this when it comes to my city!
Wat is the reason France submitted Les Miz but not this??
Even if it's submitted international feature, it can still compete at other categories, ala Parasite, so I dun see not submitting this as a strategy.
As a matter o fact, I tink the opposite is true, had France submitted this instead, it'd hqv increased its profile tremendously n it will hav a higher chance o scoring a nod for other tech categories.
But maybe the France film academy, juz like Hollywood, prefers male dominated movies n dismisses female driven movie as not as impt. 😕
It would be interesting to list all the amazing movies they snubbed over the last decade starting with BPM, a masterpiece.
I think the French Academy did the right thing sending Les Miz
About french films nominations, there´s an interesting information: La Grande iIlusion was the first non-english language film nominated for best picture. That was in 1938.
James -- Oops. You're correct. Initially, I had specified that these were only films that had, at least, 3 nods outside of the Best International Feature category but that belabored explanation got lost in the editing of this article. It was a bit confusing, so it was for the best, though it means the absence of some titles became confusing.
In any case, thank you for mentioning those two films. I'm always grateful for the feedback.
And sadly, La Grande Illusion received no other Oscar recognition.
Two Best Directors nods that year for Michael Curtis (Angels with Dirty Faces and Four Daughters) allowed no room for Jean Renoir’s masterful direction. A whooping 11 nominations that year for Best Cinematography and no recognition for the brilliance of French cinematographer Christian Matras. And most stingingly, a snub for the wonderful supporting performance of Erich Von Stroheim as a German aristocrat who struggles with his unique sense of duty to country and privilege.
The Artist should be in this list.
If the Oscars and French cinema are like a "love story," this is now the part in the relationship where the two have become an old married couple, each going about their own routine, often in silence, but still with a quiet love toward one another.
Claran- The French cinematic elite had been championing Les Misérables since the day it premiered at Cannes. Why? Well, it is a good movie (even if I prefer 'Portrait'), but I got the impression that they think it's more "important" and "socially relevant" and they like that it heralds new voices in French cinema.
I myself have always thought 'Portrait' would do much better with the Academy. One thing I'd say in encouragement for its chances... Mark Harris wrote a great article last year about how each branch of the Academy is becoming more diverse and inclusive of non-traditional nominees at different speeds. Thankfully, the writers, directors, and especially the cinematographers, the three branches where 'Portrait' would have the best chance at a nomination, are seemingly the most open to foreign film at this point.
Wasn't Three Colors: Red actually Swiss?
Amelie's loss as Best Foreign Film in 2001 was (and remains) a shocking injustice! I love that film to irrational extremes, so don't get me started.
ken s. -- Technically, it's a Polish/Franch/Swiss co-production. I decided to count it in, but I'd understand if others disagree.
I honestly think Sciamma is the most likely female directing nominee. So gird your loins for a rough nomination morning.
Anouk Aimée’s nomination is bizarre. it’s nice to see a foreign language performance getting nominated but why THAT performance exactly? I understand it was a popular movie that year but what was Oscar worthy about it?
I think the directors MAY nominate Sciamma. Would not be a total shock. Best Cinematography and Costume Design are also possible.
Could we all pray and ask for these nominations?
Best directing
Best actress
Best original screenplay
Best costume design
Best cinematography
Best production design
Best editing?
Boy, I hope directing screenplay and cinematography happens! I want he surprise like that!
If
Mendes
Scorsese
Sciamma
Almodóvar
Bong Joon-Ho
Be the directors nominated oh boy! We will be in heaven!
I'll have what you're having! I think it is almost impossible for Sciamma to get nominated this year for Best Director.
a) I think Neon put all their eggs in the Parasite basket and Pain and Glory is taking the other steam. But I think Sciamma has put herself in a terrific position and will likely see some oscar recognition (more Cannes recognition too) over the next decade.
b) I think once France decided to submit Les Miserables, it became an uphill battle for the Sciamma. I'm surprised that Neon is doing the one-week thing instead of just waiting to release it in like March. They have even sent screeners out.
c) It could have been nominated for cinematography and costume design. Original Screenplay is fuckin' stacked and that would've hurt it royally.
d) I think Les Miserables is acclaimed and topical. That's a pretty potent duo for an awards body.