This Thursday, January 13, the General Management of the Academy of Caesar announced its collective resignation. In addition to the very strong symbolic impact that this represents for French cinema, everyone is now asking the question: what future for this institution weakened by controversies?
An inevitable decline?
Already weakened by various scandals, the Academy of Caesar was strongly criticized on January 29, following the announcement of the appointments. Reaction to be expected when the film at the head of the nominees is J'accuse by Roman Polanski. It must be said that this revelation took place just after President Alain Tierzan evoked an "essential modernization" of the academy (bad timing when you hold us…).
Faced with the controversy, Alain Tierzan expressed himself very clearly:
"The academy is not a body that must have moral positions" […] "Unless I am mistaken, 1.5 million French people went to see his film. Ask them."
Alain Tierzan
But too late… The controversy is revived and French cinema is accused once again of protecting Roman Polanski. If the quality of his film J'accuse is not questioned, people wonder about the message that is sent with this honor of the director.
The protest of the 400
To the Polanski controversy was added a fierce tribune signed by 400 figures of French cinema. Many elements were criticized, including:
- The dysfunction of the dinner of revelations.
- The opaque management of the academy's accounts.
- Lack of diversity.
- The few women appointed.
Added to this is a virulent criticism of the statutes that have "not changed for a long time" and is based on "co-optation". In short, a blow for the Academy, as the 2020 ceremony is fast approaching…
It is therefore with great fanfare that a few days later, the Board of Directors announces its "collective resignation". A decision all the more surprising, when we know that it was taken unanimously.
A collective resignation… And then what?
If this resignation is a very strong symbolic act, what can we hope for the future? Several points have already been addressed, starting with a modernization of the institution, considered outdated. Marc du Pontavice, producer of I lost my body, has already made proposals and would like to "establish a more democratic system that proceeds more by a system of elections". In this way, the entire profession could be represented on the Board of Directors.
In addition, he proposed a limitation on the number of mandates as well as greater transparency regarding the accounts. According to him, "opacity generates suspicion and fantasy".
Parity and diversity have obviously been pointed out, especially by actress Marianna Ascaride:
"We need to rethink parity. We need to rethink diversity. The Académie des César cannot be a somewhat closed bridge club where, at the end of the day, we are hermetic to what is happening inside society and therefore inside the cinema."
[…]
"It's a strange situation not to take into account the evolution of French cinema: young directors, female directors… There is no representation in the broad sense. Does it come from the voters, the way we vote, who can vote? You have to ask yourself all these questions."
An important general assembly is already planned after the Ceremony on 28 February. This will notably aim to modify the statutes of the Board of Directors, in order to modernize them. All this will be done under the watchful eye of the CNC (Centre National du Cinéma) and should bring a fresh wind within this institution.
Let us hope that this general assembly will allow a real breakthrough for French cinema in the years to come. Let's also hope that it will help the discovery of new talents, with which French cinema is full.
Is this a revolution in French cinema? Or just a symbolic action that will be quickly forgotten? We will know in the years to come. Anyway, don't forget to watch the César on February 28, because this ceremony is likely to be particularly interesting!
