This year, the first big story in our show is the good fortune and the joy that Les Misérables has brought to its creators. The film, directed by a relative newcomer Ladj Ly (he made a lot of fascinating shorts before this feature), has become one of the biggest successes of the year. Over 1.7 million tickets were sold in France, the film won tons of awards and, most importantly, launched a new debate about police brutality and poverty in the suburbs. Les Misérables is an important movie and it could very possibly be amongst the 5 finalists at the Best International Film Oscar in less than a month now.

It’s not the first time I’ve followed French competitors at the Oscars. It’s not the first time at all, because I’ve followed them all over the last 2 decades.

The one that got a nomination, the one that didn’t even make the shortlist…

The one that almost got it, the one that never had a chance…

The one that played it cool, the one that was way too excited…

The one that came back, the one that never made another movie afterward…

And the one that was The Artist…

The story of this film at the Oscars, heck, the story of this film, period, is unbelievable.

I had the chance to follow it all. From the shooting of the film in Los Angeles to the night they won their 5 Oscars, it was one of the best moments of my professional life. I had the feeling of watching movie history being written right in front of my eyes. All this was happening to great people. You have no idea how nice The Artist’s crew was. It was a great time.

Could that happen to a movie like Les Misérables? Probably not… They’re up against an unbeatable giant, Parasite, the Bong Joon-Ho masterpiece…

But does winning really matter at the Oscars? Yes, of course, but not really… The important thing is to be in the conversation, to be in the movie you have to see, to be part of this gigantic cinema party that are the Oscars. In other words, at the Oscars as in the Olympics, the importance really is to participate.

Monday, January 13^th, at 5:38 am, the Academy will announce its nominations for the Oscars 2020. Then we’ll know if Les Misérables has won the right to participate…

To learn more about Les Misérables at the Academy Awards and Francophone culture in America, tune-in to episodes of Rendez-vous d’Amérique on TV5MONDE USA. Click here for more information.

Exploring cultural diversity entwined with the insatiable energy of New York’s Carnegie Hall, the bright lights of Hollywood red carpets, the inspirational beauty of Louisiana’s bayous, and beyond - Rendez-vous d'Amérique invites you on a journey to discover Francophone culture in America. Your host on this cultural experience is Didier Allouch - reporter, cinephile, and a familiar face at movie premieres. Click here to learn how you can get TV5MONDE USA and never miss an episode!