A weekend of Award ceremonies, and one that saw a memorable victory for Michael Haneke at the Césars and recognition at the Oscars.It was a strange situation with almost parallel award ceremonies, Argo winnning best film at the Oscars, best foreign film at the Césars and Amour winning best film at the Césars and best foreign film at the Oscars.
There might not have been a dramatic win at the Oscars like there was last year with The Artist, but for a French cinema industry that has been as badly hit as any by the recession, and while arguments continue to rage over the economics of film making in France, it remains encouraging that the French industry still has a place at the most exclusive table.
You can argue that the Oscars are always going to put the spotlight most favourably on the American film industry, but at the end of the day the USA dominates cinema like no other country, and the fact that France can still compete here is a real cause for celebration.
Meanwhile, the weekend saw the César awards, which put the spotlight firmly on the French film industry. While Haneke dominated, it was nice to see Argo win in the best foreign film category, but for this blog one name did stand out, with Izïa Higelin winning the best female hope award for her role in Mauvaise Fille.
Izïa Higelin is the daughter of singer Jacques Higelin and a singer in her own right. her musical career started when she was 14, and by 16 she was supporting Iggy Pop when he played in Paris and releasing songs on her MySpace.
Her debut album was released in 2009, her second album So Much Trouble coming out in 2011. While musically very different to her father - I doubt he'd have found himself on the same bill as Motorhead - she's duetted with him on a couple of his releases.
She's no stranger to awards, her debut album saw her scoop two Victoires de la musique awards: best rock/pop album of the year and breakthrough act of the year in 2010, and in 2012 she won another for rock album of the year with so Much Trouble.
Mauvaise Fille was her debut film, and with the reaction she's received she looks certain to be a very big star before too long.
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