It’s among France’s prestigious award films with a legacy dating back to 1937 (see entire wiki-list of winners) and it’s one that I’ve made a habit of predicting wrong. While this year’s batch of eight nominations excludes Claire Denis’ Bastards and includes Arnaud Desplechin’s Jimmy P. (Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian), I’d be tempted to say this is a two horse race between the best from Cannes. I’d be tempted to call it a second win for Abdellatif Kechiche (he claimed the prize for The Secret of the Grain back in ’07) but my horrible track record at predicting the prize means I’m second guessing the consensus and pointing towards Alain Guiraudie’s Stranger by the Lake as the possible winner (December 17th) for the Best Film Award. Look for the Best First Film noms to be mentioned shortly. Here are the eight:
9 Month Stretch – Albert Dupontel
Blue is the Warmest Color – Abdellatif Kechiche
Camille Claudel 1915 – Bruno Dumont
Jimmy P. (Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian) – Arnaud Desplechin
My Soul Healed by You – François Dupeyron
On My Way – Emmanuelle Bercot
The Past – Asghar Farhadi
Stranger by the Lake – Alain Guiraudie
