The French film, ‘In the house’ (‘Dans la maison’), by director François Ozon, received last Saturday, from the hands of the president of the jury, Christine Vachon, the Golden Shell in the prestigious San Sebastian International Film Festival in its 60th edition. In his acceptance speech, François Ozon He expressed his solidarity with Spanish filmmakers, who were struggling at the time with the cultural cuts imposed by Mariano Rajoy’s government. Ozon said: “In times of crisis, we mustn’t prevent creators from continuing to make films, and we must never attack culture, because that’s a bad idea and it won’t solve the financial crisis. The world needs cinema, and it also needs Spanish cinema.”, stressing the importance of protecting the arts even in difficult times.
The success of ‘Dans la maison’ at the San Sebastian Film Festival
El Film Festival San Sebastian, one of the oldest and most important festivals in Europe, has historically been a platform for auteur cinema and films with narrative depth. In its 60th edition, held in September 2012, François Ozon She presented ‘Dans la maison’ as her third film at the festival, but it was with this film that she achieved the greatest recognition, winning the coveted Golden Shell. At the closing gala, in addition to the award ceremony for François Ozon, there were other important recognitions. For example, the Spanish filmmaker Fernando Trueba was awarded the Silver Shell for Best Director for his movie ‘The artist and the model’A film shot in black and white, it explores the symbiosis between art and life through the relationship between a veteran artist and a young muse. Regarding the acting, Jose Sacristan he took the Silver Shell for Best Actor for their role in ‘Death and happiness’, an interpretation that was celebrated by critics due to the emotional complexity of the character. Sacristán had already won this same award in 1978 for ‘A Man Called Autumn Flower’. The jury also decided to award the Silver Shell for Best Actress ex aequo a Macarena Garcia for their role in ‘Snow White’ and Katie coseni for his performance in ‘Foxfire’, by Laurent Cantet. Both actresses were noted for their notable debuts on the big screen.
About the plot of ‘Dans la maison’
‘Dans la maison’ is based on the play ‘The boy in the last row’ From the renowned playwright Juan Mayorga. The film follows Claude, a young student who excels in his professor Germain’s literature class. The young man has a special talent for writing and, encouraged by the professor, begins a series of essays detailing the intimate life of a family he observes closely. As his essays progress, Claude manipulates events and people to create increasingly dramatic stories, plunging both his professor and the viewer into a spiral where morality and the boundaries between reality and fiction become ever more blurred. Professor Germain, played by Fabrice LuchiniHe is both fascinated and disturbed by Claude’s narrative skill, leading to a dangerous relationship where the lines between mentor and student begin to blur. This complex interplay between reality and fiction is one of the hallmarks of Ozon’s cinema, who manages to create an atmosphere of psychological mystery that keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat.
A message about Spanish culture and cinema
In your thank you speech, Ozone He delivered a powerful message about the importance of not neglecting culture in times of crisis. “It’s a bad idea to attack culture to solve financial problems,” he stated. “The world needs cinema, and it also needs Spanish cinema.” His words resonated strongly with the audience, especially in a context where austerity policies threatened cultural subsidies. Spanish cinema, going through difficult times with budget cuts and increases in taxes such as the cultural VAT, had films like [film titles] showing at that time. ‘Snow White’, by Pablo Berger, who took the Special Jury Award and Silver ShellWithin this context, Ozon stressed the importance of not restricting access to cinema and art in general.
The legacy of ‘Dans la maison’ and François Ozon
‘In the House’ marked a turning point in the career of François Ozon, a director who had already demonstrated his ability to blend genres and explore the boundaries of cinematic storytelling. He has been recognized as part of the French New Wave movement and praised for his capacity to incorporate theatrical elements into his films without sacrificing visual dynamism. Its success at the San Sebastián Film Festival cemented his status as one of the most influential directors of his generation and opened new doors for international collaborations, particularly with renowned screenwriters and playwrights such as Juan Mayorga. The impact of ‘In the House’ also underscored the relevance of European cinema in a landscape increasingly dominated by major American productions. The film remains an emblematic example of how a work that explores human relationships through a sophisticated narrative structure can resonate deeply with international audiences.