Iranian family drama “A Separation” wins Cesar awards

TEHRAN,Feb.26(MNA) -- The highly acclaimed Iranian family drama “Nader and Simin, a Separation” was awarded the Cesar for best foreign film on Friday, international news agencies reported on Saturday. The black-and-white silent movie “The Artist” scooped up six Cesar awards at the 37th Annual Cesar Awards ceremony, France’s annual version of the Academy Awards. “A Separation” was named best foreign language film at the Golden Globe Awards last month; it has also been nominated for Best Foreign Language Film and Best Original Screenplay at Sunday’s Academy Awards. The film also won a Golden Bear for the best film at the Berlin Film Festival and its cast ensemble received best actor and actress Silver Bears at the event last year. In addition, Farhadi accepted the Critics’ Choice Movie Award for “A Separation” last month in Los Angeles. “The Artist” grabbed six Cesar awards including best film and best actress further raising French hopes it could do well at the Oscars this weekend. The French-made film has proved to be an unexpected international success, bagging seven British BAFTA awards earlier this month, including best film, and a Golden Globe before that. Based on a true story sparked by a paragliding accident, it plays on deep-rooted racial and class barriers in France. Winners of Cesar awards receive Oscar-like trophies sculpted by Cesar Baldaccini, the artist after whom they are named.