“Sweet Song”, “Life Before You”: the best adaptations of the Goncourt Prize for cinema

Published on November 5, 2024 at 6:28 p.m.

The Goncourt Prize is an institution rewarding the literary scene of its time since the dawn of the 20th century. This Monday, November 4, the Goncourt Prize Academy awards the prize to Kamel Daoud for his story “Houris”. For decades, filmmakers have often been attracted to the idea of ​​bringing an award-winning story to the screen.

Several illustrious works have been adapted for cinema, allowing the reader to appreciate the story in a new light. The biographical novel by Marguerite Duras, “L'Amant”, which left its mark on everyone's minds in 1984, is transfigured by Jean-Jacques Annaud's camera. In 1977, “La vie avant soi” by Mohé Mizrahi moved the whole of France with the interpretation of Simone Signoret, more moving than ever.

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The existence of these films testifies to the many adventures that accompany this prize. Like Romain Gary who obtains the precious ticket twice, despite himself, by using a secret identity.

Springboard roles

Actors are regulars in the film adaptations of the prize. Jean-Paul Belmondo hits the bill in “Weekend in Zuydcoote” and “Léon Morin, priest”. These films also allow emerging actors like Isabelle Huppert to be brought to the forefront in “La Dentellière” directed by Claude Goretta in 1977.

The next cinema releases are also marked by the yoke of the literary prize since next December “Their children after them” by Ludovic and Zoran Boukherma, adapted from the eponymous work written in 2018 by Nicolas Mathieu, will be released in cinemas. Last year's Prix Goncourt winner, “Veiller sur elle”, by Jean-Baptiste Andrea should also be adapted for the big screen.

A look back at the films to watch to (re)discover many novels: