OVERLAY REPORT

Based on internal knowledge of the 1991 film *Delicatessen*, directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and Marc Caro, the acting nominations and awards were centered primarily around the **César Awards** (the French equivalent of the Oscars) and the **European Film Awards**. While the film was a massive success technically—winning Césars for Best First Work, Best Writing, Best Editing, and Best Production Design—the actors faced stiff competition in the performance categories. ### 1. Jean-Claude Dreyfus (The Butcher) Jean-Claude Dreyfus received the most significant domestic recognition for his menacing role as the butcher, Clapet. * **Award/Nomination:** Nominated for the **César Award for Best Supporting Actor** (*Meilleur acteur dans un second rôle*). * **Who he was up against (1992 Césars):** * **Jean Carmet (Winner):** For his role in *Merci la vie*. * **Jean-Pierre Marielle:** For the critically acclaimed *Tous les matins du monde* (All the Mornings of the World). * **Bernard Giraudeau:** For *Une époque formidable*. * **Ticky Holgado:** For *Une époque formidable*. (Interestingly, Holgado also appeared in *Delicatessen* as the man testing the "clapper" lights, but his nomination that year was for a different film). ### 2. Dominique Pinon (Louison) Dominique Pinon, who played the protagonist (the ex-clown Louison), was recognized on an international level within Europe rather than at the Césars for this specific role. * **Award/Nomination:** Nominated for **Best Actor** at the **European Film Awards** (1991). * **Who he was up against:** * **Michel Bouquet (Winner):** For his iconic performance in *Toto le Héros* (Toto the Hero). * **Claudio Amendola:** For *The Ultra*. * **Richard Anconina:** For *Le Petit Criminel*. ### 3. Other Cast Members While the ensemble cast was highly praised for its grotesque and stylized performances, other primary actors like **Marie-Laure Dougnac** (Julie Clapet) and **Karin Viard** (Mademoiselle Plusse) did not receive major individual award nominations for this film. This was Karin Viard's film debut, and though she didn't win for *Delicatessen*, she went on to become one of the most decorated actresses in César history. ### Summary of Context The reason *Delicatessen* did not sweep the acting categories, despite its cult status, is largely due to the year it was released. 1991/1992 was a powerhouse year for French cinema, dominated by the historical drama **"Tous les matins du monde,"** which swept many of the major awards, and **"Merci la vie,"** which featured veteran actors like Jean Carmet who were in favor with the voting academy at the time.