Robin Camillo’s internationally celebrated film BPM has taken the prestigious Best Film prize at France’s equivalent of the Oscars, the César Awards.
The picture tells the story of HIV/AIDS activists working through ACT UP in the 1990s. It’s a powerful, visceral and vital film, and it deserves every accolade immaginable.
BPM actually swept the awards ceremony in Paris, earning wins for editing, original screenplay, supporting actor, score and more.
It previously won the Grand Prix at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, earning overwhelming acclaim from audiences and critics at the festival.
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Related: Get an exclusive look at “BPM”, a new film about the Paris ACT UP movement of the ’90s
France selcted the film as their entry into the Foreign Language category at the Acadamy Awards, and it was a big surprise when it wasn’t nominated.
With eyes on the Oscars this Sunday, we hope BPM’s big wins at the César Awards will translate into a wider audience around the world.
Yes it is that good!
At the César Awards, many dresses and lapels featured white ribbons to show support of France’s version of #TimesUp, #MaintenantOnAgit (Now We Act). Penelope Cruz, who was there to accept an honorary award, was one of the more high-profile atendees with a white ribbon.
Sam6969
What a great movie! The French title is: “120 battements par minute” (120 beats per minute). It is a beautiful and very touching movie, set at the beginning of the 90s in France, in a context of urgency, as so many people were dying of AIDS. We follow, in their daily life, Act’up activists, who were often personally infected.
The actors are amazing and everything looks so realistic. Nahuel Pérez Biscayart received the Cesar for the best Male Newcomer and overall, BPM’team received 5 awards, including Best Film, Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor (Antoine Reinartz played Act’up President).
It is a movie everyone should watch, particularly the youngest of us for our personal culture, but also because this movie has the power to remind us of what is essential in life. We are immersed in a wide range of emotions (we laugh, we cry) and for all those (good) reasons, it is a movie not to miss.
ptb2016
Totally agree. It’s been a huge hit here in France, which speaks volumes about the differences in the cultures. I now have a copy on Blu Ray so can watch it again and again. But then homosexuality was decriminalised in France during the Revolution, so they’ve had a considerable start in accepting the many differences amongst human beings that make life so interesting.
Sam6969
ptb2016: I think we are not racists or that homophobic like in the US, for instance, it is not in our culture. However, it is still not that easy to be openly LGBT, particularly in some communities (an issue that has grown up in the past decades with people having difficulties to assimilate our values and culture). Also, Politically correctness and conflicts of interests (financial grip) in media take their toll on freedom of press. Free speech is not that respected here than in the US. Nothing is all Pink or Dark in any country.
Kangol
@Sam6969, France does not have the same issues with legalized homophobia that the US does, because the British imposed their anti-gay system on every colony they created, from the US to the ones in the Caribbean, Africa, South and East Asia, and Australia. Every one of the countries colonized by the UK has had to work to eliminate anti-gay laws and attitudes. But France, if not racist in the same way as the US, does have serious racial issues. Despite having one of the largest Black and brown populations in Europe, numerically and by percentage, France’s percentage of Black and brown politicians, executives, university faculty, TV personalities, etc., is far lower than the US, or the UK, etc. As you also probably know, unlike the US or UK, France does not officially keep track of race, and thus racist incidents but NGOs and organizations like LICRA, MRAP and SOS Racisme have extensively documented racial strife.
Sam6969
Kangol, I won’t argue further about statistics, rather than saying not specifying race/ethnicity/nationality is also a way to not exacerbate recent years growing awareness about “racial” issues (such as ethnic statistics in prisons, or ethnics criminality). It is a very sensitive matter in France (and other European countries) and the source of lots of controversies in a politically correct (to not say hypocritical) public background. Having said that, I do not deny there is racism/discrimination in France, whether people are white, black or brown, but it is not in our traditional values and culture… and to say the least, in any way, not in that extend of the US, for instance, as you wrote yourself. The most important thing is to be very careful in making generalizations (better avoiding them), and always try to put nuances in a complex reality.
Goosecurls
I agree that more people should have seen it. I saw it twice. Once to get the dialogue, a week later to watch faces, and what was going on in scenes. Both times it was sparsely attended. For those who thought “Call Me By Your Name” didn’t show enough, “BPM” held nothing back. The final images will stay with me.
The great thing about film, is that it can be seen and experienced for years to come. So, there is hope that eventually the Bickering Betties and Malcontent Mollies who bemoan that there is not enough depictions of gay characters and stories on film (and yet don’t go to the theater to see such films), can shush up.
Another film I recommend is “Saturday Church”.
Sam6969
Yes, it is a must-see and, like you, I will always remember the final images (and many others in the movie).
I have not seen Saturday Church, yet. Thanks for pointing it to us.
OzJosh
BPM is overlong by at least 45 minutes and – rather typically for a French film – poorly structured – with no dominant A-story to create some kind of focus; instead the film wavers erratically between the story of ACT-up and the romance of two activists, neither of which sustain interest on their own. Very frustrating viewing.
ptb2016
Sam6969 when you say we who are you referring to? France? Do you live here as I do? If so I’m surprised by your comments. I watch some game shows to keep up with French phrases and culture, and the number of gay contestants who talk about their husbands or boyfriends, occasionally a girl mentions her girlfriend, is quite high. Yet nobody batts an eyelid when the boyfriend is talked about, and some even have their partner in the audience. I’ve yet to come across any blatant homophobia, though the occasional cowardly on line abuse is there and I’d say the commercial and critical success of 120 Battements shows the difference rather well. And though it’s only just opened Call Me By Your Name is doing good box office, and I saw God’s Own Country in a packed cinema a few weeks ago. There was even a ripple of applause at the end! And I don’t live in Paris!
Sam6969
Well, if it is your experience of France, then it is perfectly fine. I would certainly not negate your feelings and argue against your opinion. You come from a different cultural and social referential, where homosexuality is much less accepted, and homophobia is clearly more often violent or openly aggressive (as everything, it depends on the place, people surrounding you, etc. and the same for France).
I was born, raised and still live in France (though I have lived in the UK and travelled around the word). I know very well those questions. What you see on TV, a rather politically correct and controlled environment in France, is one thing, living here daily as a gay man can be quite another. I have a different take on those matters.
Homosexuality is largely (more or less) accepted here and most of the time it is okay, but homophobia is still there, sometimes showing up in more or less subtle ways. While not being effeminate, I have been insulted and mocked for being gay, frowned at and I witnessed similar behaviors on more visible gay men or couples.
French gay forums report regularly experiences of homophobia in various settings (school, workplace, daily life). Granted, homophobia is not as widespread and uninhibited as in the US. It certainly does not compare. If you read a bit of French, here is the downloadable yearly report about homophobia in France, by SOS Homophobie: https://www.sos-homophobie.org/rapport-annuel-2017
hansniemeijer
I have seen parts of BPM which reflect what really happened. Being 63 I remember the stigma and the denial of the authorities that should provide ALL with healthcare.
Dansktex
It is available on DVD from Netflix for those who subscribe to DVD delivery. I watched it this week. It’s an impressive film and a good story.
marthawilson710
I agree that more people should have seen it. I saw it twice. Another film I recommend is “Saturday Church”. Refer: five nights at freddy’s demo