Star to boycott French film awards

THE STAR and director of France’s most successful home-grown movies Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis has said he will boycott the country’s film awards after it received just one nomination.

Comedian Dany Boon said the lack of recognition at the César awards, which take place on February 21, was a form of jealosy and that he would start his own “Comedy Césars”.

“The problem with the Césars and the Molières [their theatre equivalent] is the same: when you are successful that creates a form of jealousy. People says ‘he’s been successful, he has everything, he’s not going to get any awards,’” said Boon – one of France’s most popular personalities.

The €10 million budget Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis was watched by more than 20 million people at the cinema, sold more than two million DVDs and has earned almost €150 million – outstripping the record set by Titanic when it screened in France. It is nominated in one category for “best original story” at the Césars.

“It’s a shame – this is a celebration of cinema and we’re not represented,” added Boon who told RTL radio he would boycott the ceremony.

“Out of respect for the public, I expected the film would be better represented – that would have been logical. Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis has helped French cinema, notably financially and has proved to Hollywood that French cinema still exists.

“I simply think it’s not my place to be at a Césars award night where comedy is so poorly represented. It is the Césars who have boycotted comedy, not the reverse,” he added.

The film, based on a postman moving to the cold, dark north of France and getting to grips with the “Ch’tis” accent, has been taken up in the US, where Will Smith will star in a remake Welcome to the Sticks.

Césars organiser Alain Terzian said he liked the idea of a comedy Césars and would submit it to the organisation.

Photo: Boon and co-star Kad Merad in Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis