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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — European Cinema: Why did it take longer for France to establish its own Oscars equivalent?
LouvrePigeon — 7 months ago(August 17, 2025 11:45 AM)
Taking a look at the cinema of various countries, you'll quickly see that Germany, Italy, and the UK who are the dominant European film makers all established their national equivalent of the Oscars during the 1950s.
The USSR while never having a specific cinematic awards from an organization dedicated to solely to motion pictures, has been handing out national awards for outstanding achievements for movies annually.
Even weaker European countries with far smaller output in movies such as Sweden had their own equivalent of the Academy Awards since the 60s.
So I'm wondering why it took France until the mid 1970s for an official organization to organize an annual film ceremony that gives out awards to for the best of the country's flicks? Considering how much the French market has been exporting motion pictures across Europe since the late 1800s to the point that the first true cinematic technology has been credited to being created by Frenchmen?
Esp considering the monopoly the French market had on cinema in continental Europe during the 50s and 60s along with the Italians, Brits,and Soviets, why didn't France had its own Oscars until the formation of the Cesars in 1976? -
Phaenon — 7 months ago(August 17, 2025 12:13 PM)
Completely different approach to appreciation
Cahiers du Cinéma
and other 'informed' curators of artwork are/were considered above flimflam like the US Oscars or the British BAFTAs and gave out their own awards for recognition in the field(s).
The César Awards came out in 1976 and were just another excuse for a party rather than any recognition of respectable works of art.
Just the French being snooty, and rightfully so.
When
How Green Was My Valley (1941)
won over
Suspicion (1941)
at the Oscars at the height on mankind's worst war raging the French decided to have style over vogue and let everyone else look like fools.
Until the money came rolling in…
Ding Dong
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Crashout — 7 months ago(August 17, 2025 01:16 PM)
Omg that is so funny. The French are barbarians. The way they treated their slaves is proof of that. Yeah they have some tasty food, artists and amazing architecture but that's it.
Tits Malone, PI has brain damage -
Phaenon — 7 months ago(August 17, 2025 01:29 PM)
You should visit Vietnam Donna
Most people from the US think they'll be hated there. They're not
The French though, they aren't remembered fondly
John McCain, former potential presidential candidate for the Democratic Party in the US was held in a prisoner of war camp in Hanoi. The shackles are teeny-tiny, the beds also incredibly cramped, the whole situation was awful. Thankfully his Vietnamese capturers didn't hold him to the accounts that the place was originally build to uphold and gave him plenty of liberties and made his time there as enjoyable as possible. No, the original architects of that jail were the French who had just left their occupation of the place a little while earlier.
But every country has deplorable acts in its history. The secret is not to repeat them
Ding Dong
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Phaenon — 7 months ago(August 17, 2025 01:46 PM)
It's dual-fold Donna
One, this "amazing architecture" you mention can make intolerable little prisons that even former prisoners wouldn't use on their enemy combatants.
Two, every culture has ugly spots in its history and will likely get some more in their future.
Certainly be cautious of any culture which has had recent atrocities in their name, but remember the good that is under it all somewhere
Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
Ding Dong
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Phaenon — 7 months ago(August 17, 2025 02:06 PM)
You being American and Vietnam being a former colony of France, but also once at war with the US.
The US and France are allies. The Statue of Liberty is a gift from France to the people of the US. There is a shared comradery.
Vietnam doesn't have the same feelings towards France due to their occupation and enslavement of their people. Vietnam doesn't harbour any ill-will towards American citizens, despite once being at war with them.
This shows that France can have sophisticated things like art, philosophy and food whilst still being awful people under different circumstances.
The flip from the US to "Freedom fries" and "Cheese eating surrender monkeys" and back again is easier to make due to better relations between the two.
Vietnam still has coffee, pate and bread but have denounced French influence from every facet of modern life. With only the very old still speaking any French.
One country is completely forgiven for their war efforts (Which had plenty of brutality in them) and the other will likely never be fully accepted as friends due to an ongoing cultural enslavement that brought nothing of quality to the people there (Beyond coffee, pate and bread).
How you make those comparisons work is something you can muse over while eating your friend fries
Ding Dong
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Crashout — 7 months ago(August 17, 2025 03:24 PM)
The issue is France and their own Oscar's equivalent, and Sophie's opinion that the French culture is far too sophisticated and refined to participate in an awards show where their film industry recognizes its own. My remarks towards Sophie was basically sarcasm.
I don't need any explanation about diplomacy between France, Vietnam and the US. That has nothing to do with the discussion.
Reply directly about my attitude towards Sophie's comment please and quit playing games with me. I don't have eternity ok?
Get on with the original discussion.
Tits Malone, PI has brain damage -
Phaenon — 7 months ago(August 17, 2025 03:28 PM)
The OP is asking about why France took longer than Germany, Italy, and the UK to catch up to the US with an International award ceremony.
Comparability is key here Donna
All I was doing was finding something that you and your French cousins could use as a shared history; the occupation of Vietnam
Ding Dong
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Crashout — 7 months ago(August 17, 2025 03:43 PM)
Okay you have one last time to get to the ****ing point. I don't have eternity for these discussions. Maybe you have 30 years left to **** around "Hemming and hawing".
If I read anything to the contrary I'm ignoring you going forward. Now answer the OP's question.
Hint: he didn't ask what you tried to rephrase here..
The OP is asking about why France took longer than Germany, Italy, and the UK to catch up to the US with an International award ceremony.
Tits Malone, PI has brain damage -
Phaenon — 7 months ago(August 17, 2025 03:45 PM)
I have answered the OPs question Donna
You can read it here
I thought you were bringing your own tangential discussion into this. I'm sorry, I don't mean to whittle away your limited time on this Earth.
Peace out and enjoy yourself!
Ding Dong
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Crashout — 7 months ago(August 17, 2025 05:55 PM)
I don't know why those other countries have an equivalent to Hollywood's Oscar.
I do understand that the primary purpose for Louis B. Mayer creating The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences was to offer an solution to labor disputes and unions within the film industry at that time. The Oscar ceremony was just an after thought considered to be a "perk" that came with membership.
As for why other countries copied us? I have no idea. Do you???
Tits Malone, PI has brain damage -
Crashout — 7 months ago(August 17, 2025 06:02 PM)
I thought you were bringing your own tangential discussion into this. I'm sorry, I don't mean to whittle away your limited time on this Earth.
It's fine now.
I'm delighted the Lumière brothers created motion pictures because I love it so much. Americans took it and did our own thing. Just because we are allies with the French doesn't mean that I gotta kiss their asses, right? I've never been the type to grovel at the feet of anyone other than my own mother and kids.
Tits Malone, PI has brain damage -
dbentley666 — 7 months ago(August 17, 2025 03:53 PM)
French films belong in a different category from American films. They are far more intellectually sophisticated, for one thing. You might argue that the Oscars actually contribute to the mediocrity of American films. Most Oscar winning films tend to be sentimental nonsense like Schindler's List, Forrest Gump, Rain Man, and Shawshank Redemption, or historically laughable films like Ben Hur or Saving Private Ryan. Very occasionally a truly great film like Citizen Kane will make it (one Oscar!).
Most Americans have bad taste. Period.