Kristen Stewart last Friday became the first American actress to win a Cesar, France's equivalent of the Oscars, while "Timbuktu" won seven awards including best film for its portrayal of northern Mali under jihadist control. "Twilight" star Stewart received the best supporting actress award for her role alongside Juliette Binoche in "Clouds of Sils Maria".
Directed by France's Olivier Assayas, 24-year-old Stewart plays the personal assistant to a star actress played by Binoche and follows their intense, sexually-charged relationship. 'Je t'aime Juliette' Stewart has spoken of how working with Binoche, one of France's leading ladies for three decades, was a privilege and as she mounted the stage in Paris last Friday she shouted "I love you Juliette" in French.
"Clouds of Sils Maria" marks a return to arthouse films for Stewart, who made her name as Bella, the love interest of Robert Pattinson's vampire in the hugely successful five-film "Twilight" series. The best actor category saw Pierre Niney beat Gaspard Ulliel in a battle between two portrayals of legendary fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent. The two biopics were released within months of each other last year.
There was more American success when two-time Oscar winner Sean Penn - artfully dishevelled in a black suit and loosened tie - received a Cesar lifetime achievement award to tumultuous applause from the audience at the Chatelet theatre. Adele Haenel won the best actress award for romantic comedy "Love at First Fight" ("Les Combattants" in French). The prize for best foreign film went to Xavier Dolan for "Mommy", the 25-year-old French Canadian director's fifth feature-length movie. The audacious drama laced with wicked humour stars Anne Dorval playing a feisty mother grappling with a violent, bipolar son.
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