Pierre Schoendoerffer, an acclaimed French filmmaker and war reporter whose camera captured France's military defeat in Indochina, has died near Paris at the aged of 83. Schoendoerffer won an Oscar for his 1967 documentary on the Vietnam War.
Two months ahead of the presidential election, the candidates try to butter up France’s farmers at the Paris Agriculture Fair. Meanwhile, there’s trouble in France's tropical overseas department, Reunion Island. Riots spread as angry locals complain prices are too high. Finally, it’s a loud and clear victory for the star of a silent film. Jean Dujardin becomes the first Frenchman to win an Oscar for his role in "The Artist".
There's one man on all France's front pages - the conquering hero Jean Dujardin. We take a look at what makes "The Artist" so special, the clever marketing strategy that got it there, and whether other French films can follow in its wake.
MEDIAWATCH FRANCE, Mon. 27/2/2012: "The Artist" scoops five Oscars and sparks some French-bashing in the media. Also, Sarkozy and Hollande each accuse other of being cozier with France's top bosses.
As the bombs continue to fall on Homs, Syria organises a referendum on a new constitution. The government says it will pave the way to a new democratic era, but Western powers dismiss the vote as a charade. Meanwhile, the Syrian strife sends ripples through Lebanon. We report on sectarian tension in the northern city of Tripoli. Finally, Iran triumphs for the first time at the 84th Academy Awards as the divorce drama "A Separation" wins an Oscar.
INTERNATIONAL PAPERS, Mon. 27/02/12: International papers react in different ways to the Syrian constitutional referendum. The Independent calls it "Assad’s ultimate insult" and "a farcical vote". Meanwhile, Putin’s jailed opponent Mikhail Khodorkovsky pens a piece for The Guardian and the International Herald Tribune. He says "real political change in Russia is unavoidable."
FRENCH PAPERS, Mon. 27/02/12: It’s the annual agricultural show here in Paris, a mandatory stop on the campaign trail. Candidates are eager to woo the farming constituency. Meanwhile, Libération investigates the "forgotten topic" of the campaign: the country’s rough housing projects. And "The Artist" steals the show at the Oscars.
French silent movie "The Artist" swept Sunday night's Oscars with five wins, including Best Picture, Best Director for Michel Hazanavicius, and Best Actor for Jean Dujardin - the first Oscar ever awarded to a French actor.
The Academy Awards may be a mostly frivolous affair, but they sometimes also feature unexpected breakthroughs, broken records and underdog victories. This year is no exception, and could see even more surprises than usual.
