The International federation of film critics, FIPRESCI, will give this year's European Film Academy Critics' Award to Alain Resnais' Private Fears In Public Places (Coeurs).

FIPRESCI said that Resnais 'treats the characters the way an affectionate puppeteer would treat his creatures. He contemplates their comings and goings with the benevolence of one who knows that agitation is vain, but who prefers that people find it out for themselves.'

The film, adapted from an Alan Ayckbourn play, is about a group of interconnected lonely characters in Paris.

The award will be presented during the 20th European Film Awards on Dec 1 in Berlin.

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