Les Misérables, Ladj Ly's blistering look at life in the Parisian banlieues, has won the 2020 Cesar Award for best film, beating out all comers, including Roman Polanski's An Officer and a Spy.
Les Misérables also picked up the best male newcomer Cesar for Alexis Manenti, playing a racist cop, the public Cesar, voted on by the French-going audience, and a best editing honor for Flora Volpelière.
But the French Film Academy ignored a street full of protestors and a furious army of online critics to give Polanski its top directing honor Friday night. The controversial director won the best directing Cesar for An Officer and a Spy. Polanski and co-writer Robert Harris also won the best adapted screenplay prize for the film and Pascaline Chavanne took the Cesar for best costume design.
