Simple as Sylvain by Quebec director Monia Chokri won the César for best foreign film on Friday ahead of the American hit Oppenheimer during the 49th edition of the Césars, the high fair of French cinema.
“I'm so sorry, Mr. Nolan,” the director said during her acceptance speech, saying that she didn't expect to receive this award at all. A joke to which Oppenheimer's director smiled with amusement.
On a more serious note, Monia Chokri thanked a variety of collaborators, including producer Nancy Grant, known for her work with Xavier Dolan and Anne Émond. “You made me a filmmaker,” she told him, touched.
I can say today that the life I lead is bigger than the one I dreamed of.
In addition to “Oppenheimer” by Christopher Nolan, Monia Chokri’s feature film featured “The Abduction” by Marco Bellocchio, “Dead Leaves” by Aki Kaurismäki and “Perfect Days” by Wim Wenders.
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“Simple as Sylvain” by Monia Chokri
Photo: Courtesy of Immina Films
An already decorated film
This sentimental comedy starring Magalie Lépine-Blondeau and Pierre-Yves Cardinal received a seven-minute ovation (New Window) at its world premiere in Cannes in May 2023, where it was selected in the Un Certain Regard section.
This film has already won an award at the Cabourg Festival in the north of France, where it won the Grand Jury Prize and the Youth Prize.
Simple comme Sylvain tells the story of Sophia, 40, a philosophy professor who has been living with Xavier, a political science professor, for 10 years. Her life changes when she meets Sylvain, an entrepreneur from the Laurentians whose lifestyle is the exact opposite of hers. She leaves everything behind to experience a devouring passion with him.