It is one of those years where the competition doesn’t stand a chance. The prestigious, 70th year-old Louis Delluc prize is annually bestowed on France’s best film and with a rare Palme D’or win this year, it’s safe to say that the odds are better than 2 to 1 for Laurent Cantet’s The Class. Arnaud Desplechin’s A Christmas Tale stands as a distant second best choice. Here is the complete list from what the jury of leading critics will have to choose from, with winners will be announced in a month from now on the 12th of December. Titles with asterisks will have a U.S theatrical release in 2009 or have had a fall 2008 release. Click here for previous winners.
Un Conte de Noel (A Christmas Tale) by Arnaud Desplechin*
Dernier maquis (Adhen) by Rabah Ameur-Zaimeche
Entre Les Murs (The Class) by Laurent Cantet*
L’Heure d’ete (Summer Hours) by Olivier Assayas*
Le Premier venu (Just Anybody) by Jacques Doillon
Seraphine by Martin Provost
La Vie moderne (Modern Life) by Raymond Depardon
Delluc first film prize:
Versailles by Pierre Schoeller,
Elle s’appelle Sabine (Her Name Is Sabine) by Sandrine Bonnaire;
Le Tueur (The Killer) by Cedric Anger.
