Day 2 at 2012 Cannes

In my mind is today when the fest really starts as is when sections have their opening films and fest goes into full force; so I go into my serious self to write my comments.

Main Competition

De Rouille et d’Os (Rust & Bone) by Jacques Audiard

One of the most awaited films in the fest and one that buzz predicts as a frontrunner for the Palme d'Or; first reviews headlines tell me that film has high possibilities to continue being THE frontrunner. If you wish to read in-depth about what I think about this film please go here.  Some of the reviews say film has a love story, a violent love story... which if right, is what I expect from Audiard's film.

Photocall video shows us a very beautiful and serene Marion Cotillard; obviously I recommend watching just to see how she moves so-well with the photographers requests. Probably I'm very subjective when I say watch the TV Festival de Cannes interview just to see and hear Cotillard but she's really lovely to watch; if you understand French suggest to turn fest site to that language to avoid the awful voice over English translation.

Press conference has the director, the scriptwriter, the two main stars and is no surprise that the room is full with many standing. One of the things I like about press conferences is the opportunity to "meet" the directors, as many times I realize that director's personality and their filmmaking style are very similar, which has many interesting implications. There are little spoilers but just turn off sound if you wish to avoid them. Already familiar with Audiard's personality thanks to Un Prophet and this video confirms it; impressed with Belgian Matthias Schoenaerts and Marion is simply unbelievably lovely in "real-life" (I know she's working) moments. I found the press conference interesting with some good questions that provoked great answers, suggest you watch it.

Quotes from the press conference

Marion Cotillard's quest to interpret the role of Stéphanie
When I read the script by Jacques and Thomas, I was blown away by the story. Generally, when I read a story, there is always great understanding about the character. I know who the person is. Yet with Stéphanie, I arrived at the end of the character and I did not know who she was. I spoke about it with Jacques and he told me that he didn't know either and the prospect of us discovering this character together was very exciting.

Physical strength in the film, by Jacques Audiard
Matthias does not fit my criteria at all in men. I prefer short men and I surprised myself with this choice, this big boy with lots of muscles. This is what the film discusses, warped characters, at a time of crisis, when society turns to barbarism, where people eat from rubbish bins. It is in this sense that he has physical power. He doesn't have the words but he has that. And in the end, he will probably be able to use words better.

If I believe the little I'm willing to read/learn about this film then I have to agree with some reliable critics that are willing to bet (really gamble) that Marion Cotillard will get the Best Actress award. Besides hoping she wins, to me is one more sign that this film will be great and confirms, once more, that is Must Be Seen.

Baad el Mawkeaa (After the Battle) by Yousry Nasrallah

This is a movie I know very little so today will learn enough to hopefully let you know my impressions and expectations.

Photocall introduces me to a quite attractive cast that stimulates my imagination and if you're not familiar with film suggest to watch even when definitively is not the usual elegant/ceremonial photocall. TV Festival de Cannes interview gives some spoilers that I appreciate to continue learning about film that is set in recent Egypt historic events. Watch if you're interested in learning about the many difficulties they had while filming.

Press conference has major spoilers as seems the film story is what concerns press the most, still continued watching as I know that will be able to watch film rather later than sooner as Egyptian productions are not easy to find near me. Didn't finish watching the video, but suggest you watch only if you really want to learn more about story and filming hardship.

I have the impression that film could not be easy-to-watch due to the real-life events that inspired film but definitively what I watched today stimulates my curiosity and makes me wish to watch film. I expect a film with a style that I'm not too familiar but from few Egyptian films I have seen, can tell that I have not enjoyed style much; still due to the immediacy (2011) of the historic events plus film being in Cannes In Competition curiosity prevails and know that will watch.

As a reference this is the film synopsis.

Mahmoud was one of the horsemen coerced by lowly henchmen for Mubarak's regime into carrying out attacks on protesters in Tahrir Square on February 2, 2011. He has since lost his job. Humiliated and ostracized, he lives near the Pyramids with his wife and sons. His family is on the brink of despair when he meets Reem, a secular Egyptian divorcee who works in advertising. She is a fervent revolutionary who lives in a wealthy Cairo neighborhood. Theirs is the encounter of two people, but also of two different worlds.

If you wish to learn more about film as well as watch trailer plus film clips go to the official site news article here and/or movie info page here.

Un Certain Regard

Opening film: Mystery, Lou Ye

Extremely curious about this film especially after watching impressive film clip that you can see here. As we know film is competing for the Queer Palm, has gay interest, but definitively I expect film to transcend the genre and have spectacular visuals with a story that could be interesting. I'm not familiar with Lou Ye's work but think that will explore his previous works as soon as possible.

Student by Darezhan Omirbayev

Not really familiar with director and his film, inspired by Fyodor Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment but set in today's Kazakhstan, not necessarily calls my attention. Still one word used to describe his work intrigues me, his poetry; think I need to see films with poetic visuals and narrative plus know that filmmakers from that region usually deliver poetry superbly. Maybe I should give director a try.

Special Screenings

Today Laurent Bouzereau presents his film Roman Polanski: A Film Memoir a documentary on the life of the Franco-Polish director. Not sure I wish to watch another doc about Polanski especially when synopsis includes what I think we already know too much. Perhaps what could be interesting is that film is based on Polanski and Bouzereau "recent" (2009) conversations while he was under house arrest in Gstaad, so maybe this doc will include more Polanski's opinions than someone else perceptions.

Cannes Classics

Section opens with Woody Allen: A Documentary by Robert Weide that hopefully will be an interesting biopic on one of the most prolific filmmakers in contemporary cinema, especially when you think than in a career spanning fifty-years and over forty films, Allen has given very little away. I was a huge Woody Allen fan and still LOVE many of his earlier films; but he distanced from me and is it not until Vicky Cristina Barcelona and great Midnight in Paris that he came closer again. Am I interested in watching a biopic? Yes sure, especially if talks about his earlier work and explains me why he changed his so-successful style. It is as I wrote it, very personal.

Also today films restored by the World Cinema Foundation one from India, 1948 Kalpana by Uday Shankar and from Indonesia, 1954 Lewat Djam Malam (After the Curfew) by Usmar Ismail. To read more about foundation and/or films go here.

Cinéma de la Plage

Section opens with the celebration of the James Bond 50th anniversary, a cycle that will screen five films. Celebration starts with the first in a long line of Bond films, Terence Young's Dr. No starring what I consider the most impressive 007, Sean Connery and Ursula Andress in perhaps her most iconic role. Over the course of the 50 years, seven actors have played Bond, the latest is Daniel Craig whose film Casino Royale by Martin Campbell will be also screened today.

Quinzaine

Today at the opening ceremony of the 44th Directors' Fortnight master filmmaker Nuri Bilge Ceylan will receive this year Carrose d'Or. Earlier his film Mayis sikintisi (Clouds of May) was screened followed by a masterclass with the filmmaker.

Opening film: The We and The I by Michel Gondry

After reading synopsis and watching several film clips I can't say that I'm looking forward to watch Gondry latest film as from what I have seen storytelling style gave the impression of a film that I will not enjoy. But I know that many will like it as seems like is a good representative of Indie American movies.

Semaine de la Critique

Opening film: Broken by Rufus Norris

Got excited after watching great clips here. Also, got the impression that film will have the realistic style that has predominated lately in British productions but believe that this film could be easier to watch than some that I'm still thinking if I should watch or not. Nevertheless I know will have to find the right mood to fully enjoy this film that has a great cast with the likes of Cillian Murphy and Tim Roth in what seems a departure from his regular roles. Story seems compelling as the following synopsis tells.

Shortly after witnessing a brutal beating, Skunk’s home, neighborhood, and school become treacherous environments, where the happy certainties of childhood give way to danger; her innocence is rapidly worn away and a harsh world fills her future, over which she has no control. When Skunk finally seeks solace in an unspoken friendship with sweet, damaged Rick, she’s faced with the greatest choice of all.

Los Salvajes (The Wild Ones) by Alejandro Fadel

A film that I know very little about it as even when film was at BAFICI there is no trailer available yet. Synopsis doesn't stimulate my imagination in the right direction, so not able to comment about this film that browsing BAFICI reviews found that was not well received at the most famous Argentinean fest; so everyone must be quite surprised when film made the Semaine selection.

First news about Cannes screening are mainly in Spanish with a headline that reads "Argentinean filmmaker Alejandro Fadel shakes Cannes with Los Salvajes", surely must be a shocking movie. Think will skip for now.

L'ACID

Opening film: Sharqiya by Ami Livne

This Israel, France and Germany production calls my attention for the story about an unauthorized desert village with a demolition order and one of its inhabitants deciding to take action, this is the synopsis.

Nobody really respects Camel Najer, the young Bedouin who works as a security guard at the central bus station. Neither his family, nor his colleagues. When the Israeli government threatens to tear down his settlement, he decides to act. Camel comes up with the plan to stage a bomb attack, which he will then prevent from happening, making him the hero of the day, hopefully saving his settlement and earning him the respect he's so desperately yearning for.

Other Important News

Announcements started to pour following the fest kick-off, these are some of the most interesting.

First a very interesting unnamed project that will reunite Asghar Farhadi with Marion Cotillard that absolutely stimulates my imagination as Cotillard in Farhadi filmmaking and storytelling style has to be superb.

Next, came the confirmation that Nicole Kidman will star in Olivier Dahan (remember La Môme?) Grace de Monaco; somehow I like the idea that the project is in the hands of a French director.

Then the fantastic news that the winning team of amazing Il y a longtemps que je t'aime (I've Loved You So Long) has a new project Avant L'Hiver, so we will be able to see Kristin Scott-Thomas again directed by Philippe Claudel. Cast includes great Daniel Auteuil and intriguing Leïla Bekhti.

Also worth mentioning, a French/British thriller directed by Gilles Paquet-Brenner (remember Elle s'appelait Sarah?), Dark Places, starring Amy Adams; film is in English.

Today were released details about the film Devil's Knot that will dramatize the case of Jessie Miskelley, Jason Baldwin and Damien Echols convicted as teens of murdering three eight-year-old boy scouts in 1993; but after 18 years in prison, the three men were released in August 2011. Colin Firth and Reese Whitherspoon will co-star and The Weinstein Co will distribute.

Other Activities

Today was Madagascar 3 photocall with larger than life movie characters and the opportunity to see the likes of Chris Rock, Ben Stiller, Jessica Chastain and Jada Pinkett-Smith, all of whom donate their voices to the now well-known characters.

Also today, Audi Talent Awards ceremony. Awards are handled to a short film and another to music. To read more go here.

The Not-So-Serious News

Tilda Swinton looked truly spectacular at last night Gala Dinner at Electrolux Agora Pavillion, so did Jessica Chastain.

Seen in Cannes today at Rust & Bone premiere red carpet, Jane Fonda, Tim Roth, beautiful Leila Bekhti, Virginie Ledoyen, Beth Ditto and partner Kristin Oqata, plus L'Oreal stars Freida Pinto, Evan Longoria, Fan BingBing.

Seen at Nice Airport today Tilda Swinton leaving; Jennifer Connelly and husband Paul Bettany plus Maria de Medeiros arriving.

Photo of the Day

After Rust & Bone press conference American media fell in love with Matthias Schoenaerts "perfect" English and foresee a long career in Hollywood for him. Headlines talk about the first Cannes crush. Here are the three stars at the red carpet.

Cannes 2012 - Day 1

Introduction

Finally today the fest opens and I'm looking forward to watch the opening ceremony, including the red carpet to the ceremony but also to Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom.

According to the official site the actors expected to be in attendance today include Bruce Willis, Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, and Edward Norton, all starring in Anderson film, which suggests that film red carpet moment will be colorful to say the least.

By this moment you'll be able to read press reactions to Anderson's movie as the press screening already happened, so if you wish to read the reviews just browse the net to find them. As a preview: press applauses were brief...

But in a while we will be able to attend Anderson's movie photocall and press conference, so will be adding here whatever I find interesting. Found paid photos from photocall and is Murray who's stealing the show. Photocall is over and they are moving into the press conference room.

As some of my loyal readers know what follows are my spontaneous not-so-serious comments about the events that happened today.

Around Moonrise Kingdom by Wes Anderson

Moonrise Kingdom photocall 20 minutes video is up at Cannes official site and I'm watching. Obviously FULL of press photographers and is Thierry Fremaux who welcomes the cast to the photocall. Gosh, who's been called the most? Bruce, Bruce. Next is Tilda, Tilda. But it's amazing that the photo which immediately reached the net belongs to Bill Murray wearing a colorful jacket and underneath what absolutely looks like a pajama. The two young actors plus Anderson and a man in blue who probably is a producer. Tilda alone, press goes wild, lol! Bruce follows and the same craziness. Edward Norton, Wes Aderson and Bill follow... Bruce decides to iPhone film the press and Bill wants to have a photo with Anderson... then with Bruce... haha Anderson takes photos. Alright is a funny photocall, very nice for the first photocall of the fest! Suggest to watch. Enjoy!

Next also up at official site is the cast interview with TVFestival de Cannes, I'm watching. Tilda Swinton, Bruce Willis, Wes Anderson, Edward Morton and Bill Murray attend. Wes starts by saying that's his first time in Cannes; serious Bruce talks about love and start to play with Bill, haha, interviewer lost control, great! Wes interviews Bruce... with no question. haha. Bill represents sincerity (??!!)... actually he is the one that says more serious things. Oops no questions for Tilda, bad quite bad. Okay, watch you will laugh a little, smile a little...

 Very nice Edward Norton photo from the press conference.



Edward Norton on why he wanted to take part in this film:
"It's really great to find yourself surrounded by actors who have all studied Orson Wells or the theatre. Wes Anderson has created a great troop of actors made up of all these comedians working together in a fairly romantic context... It's a bit like what you want to do when you're still young and you want to make a film in your family's back garden."

Press conference has everyone including Alexandre Desplat that is in the audience; man in blue is scriptwriter Roman Coppola. Start with the two main characters, the kids, talking about their Cannes experience, followed by Wes introduction. Questions start with American press. Serious Bruce Willis talks again about love... ends with a joke. Tilda very smart and precise answer, love to watch her. Bill Murray makes me laugh, great! Edward Norton above quote is edited, check real answer is great. Gosh Murray is truly entertaining... worth watching! Murray: this what we call art film; which meansyou work long hours for no money, this trip to Cannes is all we get...ha ha. or "when you work with a director you know you not only may never see him again, sometimes you hope you never seen him again. And that goes for the director as well. They can't wait for you to leave. They drive you to the airport to make sure you leave. That happens. With Wes, I've never gotten a ride to the airport." Oh gosh! Murray really makes you laugh... probably more than in the movie! ha ha. Great that Bruce talks about Frances McDormand that is not there... and the big rabbits in North, ha ha. Conference has many serious moments but I find it entertaining and you don't learn much about film, so there are no major spoilers, great! Watch it!!!

The Jury

Last night the jury had his photo opportunity moment and here is the first photo of this year eclectic jury. Also soon will be available the video with the jury press conference.



Also a nice photo of juror Ewan McGregor with Tim Roth, president of the Un Certain Regard jury.

Photocall is noisy with lots of photographers, Nanni is the first to go alone; then a very nice photo with Nanni and all the female jurors followed by other with all the male jurors. Think is first time I see Jean-Paul Gaultier moving as always have seen him in photos. Last Gaultier, McGregor and Kruger, the jury photogenic (beautiful) people. Diane Kruger is wearing very beautiful shoes, there are many photos available. If you decide not to watch won't miss much.

Jury interview is full of different languages so no matter how you watch you will hear two translator at once sometimes; the this year no woman directors question comes (are you aware about the controversy?) and Andrea Arnold answer, as well as Devos and Kruger. If one I actor I truly respect and will watch everything with or by her is magnificent Hiam Abbass; then Andrea Arnold Fish Tank is outstanding while his last is puzzling. Gaultier wishes to be surprised. Interview is okay but not much entertaining, if you skip it will not miss much.

To check Today May 16 all videos go here. Is a work in progress that will end with the opening ceremony video later in the night.

Tonight Red Carpets

At the official site there is an almost 16 minutes red carpet clip that shows some of the celebrities in attendance plus the jury. Have seen a few photos and definitively Fan Bing Bing called my attention as well as Jessica Chastain; Jean-Paul Gaultier looks very elegant with what looks like a long skirt and Tilda has some magnificent photos, especially when she is laughing. Moonrise Kingdom cast and crew in attendance look great and elegant, even Bill Murray.

Also there is another video with the Moonrise Kingdom red carpet with interviews with most of the cast. Tilda as always looking specially great and with very good answers. Suggest to watch video.

Opening Ceremony

My only very serious comments for today.

Nice opening ceremony. The best as always are the movie clips that this year showed the immense variety/diversity of films In Competition and Out of Competition. Watching the clips made me think about how well curated Cannes 2012 is, with films that travel almost all the genre spectrum. Most interesting is to watch clips from those films that not until this moment had trailers or clips, especially Leos Carax intriguing scene from Holy Motors, and the new clips like the one from Andrew Dominik's Killing Them Softly where Brad Pitt says exactly the movie title, Lee Daniel's The Paperboy clip with Zac Efron dreaming about Nicole Kidman that had great visuals, and the surprise twist in Michael Haneke's Amour scene. Excellent films await us in the coming year my friends.

Also outstanding was Nanni Moretti's collage with many films that made me recall why I highly enjoy him as an actor and as a director. The collage was very well-done, so good that not only was highly enjoyable, entertaining but also clearly showed Moretti's wide range.

Talking about Moretti extremely enjoyed his remarks as not only complied with the ceremony etiquette but also had its brief but sharp political comment. Bravo!

Beth Ditto appearance was maybe a little bit confusing for me as even when can't say I did not found entertaining her efforts to cheer the audience, performing Elton John's Candle in the Wind to honor Marilyn Monroe seems to me not correct. The song belongs to a very well-known celebrity and that's exactly what I was thinking while she was singing; and as camera went to her audience I bet you that many were thinking the same. To me performing this song was a big faux-pas.

Also in the non-positive end is Bérénice Bejo opening monologue. Not only was not entertaining, not interesting but was delivered in such a monotonous way that became tedious; so boring that camera showed her audience with eyes closed like if they were sleeping.

But in the end this is a ceremony about movies and both movie clips collages were fantastic, so I highly recommend you watch them.  Enjoy!!!

The Irreverent

First day and surely one of the most irreverent events in Cannes took place, Sasha Baron Cohen ridiculous presentation of his latest movie The Dictator; browse around for photos including the ones with him discussing with a woman in a yacht. Okay here is one.



Who is in Cannes

Alec Baldwin and Chris Pine being interviewed by allocine; found they're promoting "Rise of the Guardians" also with them, Isla Fisher.  All walked the red carpet
Jane Fonda in a very nice photo that includes Eva Longoria and Frieda Pinto; all walked the red carpet looking fantastic.

Today's photos

Diane Kruger and Jessica Chastain arrive to Cannes looking very natural. Nice.

Cannes 2012 Official Selection Preview - Cosmopolis by David Cronenberg

Thanks to the absurd huge media coverage I have to constantly remember myself that Cosmopolis is a David Cronenberg film and NOT a Robert Pattinson movie especially when I consider Pattinson a mediocre actor that his only acceptable role is as a vampire. Recently watched Bel Ami and honestly he's terrible, the only good moments the film has is when Uma Thurman and Kristin Scott-Thomas are in the screen dwarfing even further Pattinson pathetic performance. I'm hoping that maybe in the hands of Cronenberg Pattinson can deliver as from what I imagine he will be in almost every Cosmopolis scene.

No doubt that movie will make money but most viewers will come from an audience that is not familiar with David Cronenberg glorious storytelling style which trailer and film stills suggest is all over the film.

The synopsis clearly states a theme that fascinates Cronenberg; how the organic and the psychological are inextricably intertwined, society's anxieties and phobias, and letting repressed impulses and paranoia run wild. Film addresses the alarming global financial crisis of today's world; it is a hauntingly prophetic fable that turns the future into history and suggests that the archaic might be our eerie future.

New York is in turmoil, the age of capitalism is drawing to a close end. Eric Packer, a high finance golden boy, dives into a white limousine. While a visit from the President of the United States paralyses Manhattan, Eric Packer has one obsession: getting a haircut at his barber’s at the other end of the city. As the day goes by, chaos sets in, and he watches helplessly as his empire collapses. Also he is sure that someone is going to assassinate him. When? Where? He is about to live the most decisive 24 hours of his life



As you can tell my expectations are very low especially when I learned that Juliette Binoche just did 2 days filming which I translate into very little time in the screen, probably only one scene that will be glorious but too short for sure.

Obviously will watch film as Cronenberg is one of my favorite directors but can't deny that I'll break my golden rule and as soon as film reviews from reliable sources start to appear will read them, just to find if Pattison improves here or not. Sigh.

Cronenberg in Cannes

Out of his 39 films in his eclectic career, Croneberg has been in Cannes three times before. First came in 1996 with Crash in competition for the Palme d'Or and went to win the Special Jury Prize; came back in 2002 with Spider in competition followed by A History of Violence also in competition and in 2007 with his short in Chacun son Cinema (To Each His Own Cinema) that was out of competition. Also in 1999 he was the Official Selection jury president.

Cronenberg has a significant history with Cannes but I doubt this film will get more than huge attention during the fest. Only IF Pattinson delivers then film could have some opportunities to be honored.

Film specs
Directed by David Cronenberg
Written by David Cronenberg
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Juliette Binoche, Mathieu Amalric, Samanta Morton, Paul Giamatti
Language: English
Nationality: Majority Canadian (France and Canada)
Runtime: 1h 48m
Production year: 2012

End Notes
Cronenberg at Cannes go here.
Cosmopolis at Cannes official site go here.
Unifrance go here.

Around the Selection of the 2012 Festival de Cannes

As every year there are many activities going on around the fest and this year there are a few interesting ones, let's take a look.

Masterclassess

Three masterclasses celebrate the fest 65th anniversary.

A Personal History of Film Music by Alexandre Desplat
A History Lesson by Norman Lloyd
A Lesson in Directing by Philip Kaufman

To read about each masterclass go here.

Cinéma de la Plage

MGM and Park Circus have teamed up to screen five digitally-restored James Bond movies to celebrate the character 50th Anniversary, an event that will kick off a year long celebration. These are the films.

Doctor No by Terence Young, Sean Connery as 007
Casino Royale by Martin Campbell, Daniel Craig as 007
Diamonds Are Forever by Guy Hamilton, Sean Connery as 007
From Russia With Love by Terrence Young, Sean Connery as 007
On Her Majesty's Secret Service by Peter Hunt, George Lazenby as 007

The program will also screen the following movies.

Project A by Jackie Chan, Hong Kong, 1982
Le Farceur (The Joker) by Philippe de Broca, France, 1961
Jaws by Steven Spielberg, USA, 1975
Red Tails by Anthony Hemingway, USA, 2012

The program closes with "A Surprise" film screened on Saturday May 26th. To check info about each film go here.

Cannes Junior

On Thursday May 24 the program will screen Le Magasin des Suicides (The Suicide Shop) by Patrice Leconte, France, Belgium and Canada, 2012. There is nothing more interesting to me than a new animation film done by what has been called the cutting-edge animation cinema in the world: French Animation.  Go here to see some film stills.

Cheers!

65th Festival de Cannes Official Selection Lineup - Update 5

The jury of the Un Certain Regard is announced and posted here. Only 2 days for Opening Ceremony and the cinema feast will start once more, can't wait. Check facebook page for a photo that shows that today the posters are going up. Cheers!!!
---End of Update 5---

5/10
As of today we can check at the fest official site info, photos and/or videos for ALL the films in the Cannes Selection that includes all the films below; go here.
---End of Update 4 ---

5/4
Today organizers announced a new film in the Official Selection Special Screenings section, Le Serment de Tobrouk by Bernard-Henri Levy.

Also you will notice that as of today there are trailers for some short films competing at the Short Film and the Cinéfondation. Since last week I have been searching for trailers of all Cannes 2012 films on daily basis so every day there is at least one new trailer to watch at MOC.

After watching many trailers my first spontaneous impression is that films this year are very visual as many have breathtaking images. Let's hope that stories are as great as the outstanding visuals.
---End of Update 3---

4/30
Today organizers announced new films that will complement the Official Selection, one in the Special Screening, two in Midnight Screenings and three in Un Certain Regard. In Un Certain Regard section there are a total of 20 films. Also a new film in Cannes Classics that will be included in the specific post; this film will close the section on May 25.
---End of Update 2---

4/26
The jury of the main competition has been announced and there are many well-known people for me that surely will color the festival with their presence and hopefully will select the best of the best in the selection.
---End of Update 1---

4/19
Today at the Intercontinental – Le Grand Hotel in Paris Gilles Jacob and Thierry Frémaux announced the much awaited official selection and to my personal joy there are several extraordinary directors with their latest masterpieces. Among them have to mention Haneke’s Amour, Carlos Reygadas’ Post Tenebras Lux, Kiarostami’s Like Someone in Love, Mungiu’s Beyond the Hills, and many more.

Without further comments here is the 2012 Cannes Official Selection

Competition
Opening film: Moonrise Kingdom, Wes Anderson, USA

Amour (Love), Michael Haneke, France, Austria, and Germany
Baad el Mawkeaa (After the Battle), Yousry Nasrallah, Egypt
După dealuri (Beyond the Hills), Cristian Mungiu, Romania
Cosmopolis, David Cronenberg, France, Canada, Portugal, and Italy
다른 나라에서 Da-reun Na-ra-e-suh (In Another Country), Hong Sangsoo, South Korea
De Rouille et d’Os (Rust & Bone), Jacques Audiard, Belgium and France
돈의 맛 Do-nui Mat (The Taste of Money), Im Sang-soo, South Korea
Holy Motors, Leos Carax, France
В тумане V Tumane (In the Fog), Sergei Loznitsa, Germany, Netherlands, Belarus, Russia and Latvia
Jagten (The Hunt), Thomas Vinterberg, Denmark
Killing Them Softly, Andrew Dominik, USA
Lawless, John Hillcoat, USA
ライク・サムワン・イン・ラブ Like Someone in Love, Abbas Kiarostami, France and Japan
Mud, Jeff Nichols, USA
On The Road, Walter Salles, France, UK and USA
Paradies: Liebe (Paradise: Love), Ulrich Seidl, Germany, France and Austria
Post Tenebras Lux, Carlos Reygadas, Mexico, France, and Netherlands
Reality, Matteo Garrone, Italy and France (is this Big House?)
The Angels’ Share, Ken Loach, UK and France
The Paperboy, Lee Daniels, USA
Vous N’Avez Encore Rien Vu (You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet), Alain Resnais, France

Out of Competition
Closing film: Thérèse Desqueyroux, Claude Miller, France
Io e Te (Me and You), Bernardo Bertolucci, Italy
Madagascar 3, Europe’s Most Wanted, Eric Darnell and Tom McGrath, USA
Heminway & Gellhorn, Philip Kaufman, USA

The Jury
President: Nanni Moretti, director, actor and producer, Italy
Hiam Abbass, actress, Palestine
Andrea Arnold, director and scriptwriter, UK
Emmanuelle Devos, actress, France
Diane Kruger, actress, France
Jean Paul Gaultier, designer, France
Ewan McGregor, actor, UK
Alexander Payne, director, scriptwriter and producer, USA
Raoul Peck, director scriptwriter and producer, Haiti

Un Certain Regard
Closing Ceremony: Renoir, Gilles Bourdos, France
7 Dias en la Habana, 7 directors: Benicio del Toro, Pablo Trapero, Julio Medem, Elia Suleiman, Juan Carlos Tabio,, Gaspard Noé, and Laurent Cantet, France and Spain
11・25自決の日　三島由紀夫と若者たち11•25 jiketsu no hi: Mishima Yukio to wakamono-tachi (11.25 The Day he Chose his own Fate), Kôji Wakamatsu, Japan
*Antiviral, Brandon Cronenberg, Canada and USA
A Perdre La raison (aka Aimer à perdre la raison) (Loving without Reason), Joachim Lafosse, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, and Switzerland
*Beasts of the Southern Wild, Benh Zeitlin, USA
Confession of a Child of the Century, Sylvie Verheyde, France
Después de Lucía, Michel Franco, Mexico
Djeca (Children), Aida Begić, Bosnia Herzegovina
Elefante Blanco (White Elephant), Pablo Trapero, Argentina and Spain
*Gimme the Loot, Adam Leon, USA
*La Playa, Juan Andrés Arango, Colombia
La Pirogue (The Pirogue), Moussa Touré, Senegal and France
Laurence Anyways, Xavier Dolan, Canada and France
Le Grand Soir, Benoît Delépine and Gustave Kervern, France
Les Chevaux de Dieu (God’s Horses), Nabil Ayouch, France, Morocco, Tunisia (?)
Miss Lovely, Ashim Ahluwalia, India
Mystery, Lou Ye, China
Student, Darezhan Omirbayev, Kazakhstan and France
Trois Monde, Catherine Corsini, France

Un Certain Regard Jury
President: Tim Roth, actor and director, UK
Leïla Bekhti, actress, France
Tonie Marshall, director and Producer, France
Luciano Monteagudo, cinema critic, Argentina
Sylvie Pras, Head of Cinemas at Centre Pompidou and Artistic Director of La Rochelle Film Festival

Special Screenings
A Música Segundo Tom Jobim, Nelson Pereira Dos Santos, Brazil
Der Müll Im Garten Eden (Polluting Paradise aka Garbage in the Garden of Eden), Fatih Akin, Germany
Journal de France, Claudine Nougaret and Raymond Depardon, France
Les Invisibles, Sébastien Lifshitz, France
Le Serment de Tobrouk (The Oath of Tobruk), Bernard-Henri Lévy, France
Mekong Hotel, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Thailand
Roman Polanski: A Film Memoir, Laurent Bouzereau, UK and Germany
The Central Park Five, Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, David McMahon, USA
*Trashed, Candida Brady, UK
*Villegas, Gonzalo Tobal, Argentina, Netherlands, and France

Midnight Screenings
愛と誠 Ai To Makoto (The Legend of Love & Sincerity), Takashi Miike, Japan
Dario Argento’s Dracula, Dario Argento, France, Spain and Italy
Maniac, Franck Khalfoun, USA and France
*The Sapphires, Wayne Blair, Australia

65th Anniversary
Une journée particulière, Gilles Jacob and Samuel Faure, France

*First Film, competes for Camera d’Or

Short Films Competition
Ce Chemin Devant Moi, Mohamed Bourokba (aka Hamé), France, 15’
Chef de Meute (Herd Leader), Chloé Robichaud, Canada, 13’
Cockaigne, Emilie Verhamme, Belgium, 13’
في المنافسة Falastein, Sandouk Al Intezar Lil Burtuqal (Waiting for P.O. Box), Bassam Chekhes, Syria, 15’
Gasp, Eicke Bettinga, Germany, 15’
Mi Santa Mirada, Alvaro Aponte-Centeno, Puerto Rico, 15’
Night Shift, Zia Mandviwalla, New Zealand, 14’
Sessiz-be Deng (Silent), L. Rezan Yeşilbaş, Turkey, 14’
The Chair, Grainger David, USA, 12’
Yardbird, Michael Spiccia, Australia, 13’

The Cinéfondation Selection
Fifteen films have been selected out of more than 1,700 submissions from 320 film schools across the globe. For the first time, a Lebanese school features in the selection, which covers fiction and animation and highlights films sharing the same film-making ambition and the expression of a very personal vision.

Abigail, Matthew James Reilly, NYU, USA, 17’
Derriere Moi Les Oliviers (Behind Me Olive Trees), Pascale Abou Jamra, ALBA, Lebanon, 20’
ДОРОГА НА Doroga na (The Road To), Taisia Igumentseva,VGIK, Russia, 32’
Head Over Heels, Timothy Reckart, NFTS, UK, 10’
Les Ravissements (The Raptures), Arthur Cahn, La Femis, France, 50’
Los Anfitriones (The Hosts), Miguel Angel Moulet, EICTV, Cuba, 16’
Matteus, Leni Huyghe, Sint-Lukas Brussels, Belgium, 18’
Pude ver un Puma (Could See a Puma), UCINE, Argentina, 17’
רסן - טריילר Resen (Dog Leash), Eti Tsicko, TAU, Israel, 26’
Riyoushi (The Barber), Shoichi Akio, Tokyo University of the Arts, Japan, 39’
Slug Invasion, Morten Helgeland, The Animation Workshop, Denmark, 6’
Tabăra Din Răzoare (The Camp in Razoare), Cristi Iftime, UNATC, Romania, 22’
Tambylles, Michal Hogenauer, FAMU, Czech Republic, 58’
Terra (Land), Piero Messina, CSC, Italy, 23’
The Ballad of Finn + Yeti, Meryl O’Connor, UCLA, USA, 18’

Short Films and Cinéfondation Jury
President: Jean Pierre Dardene, director, scriptwriter and producer, Belgium
Karim Ainouz, director and scriptwriter, Brazil
Emmanuel Carrere, writer, scriptwriter and director, France
Arsinée Khanjian, actress, Canada
Yu Lik Wai, director of photography and filmmaker, China

Well the Competition has a lot of Hollywood stars that surely will walk the red carpet plus give us full serious and not-so-serious material, just check some names: Zac Efron, John Cusac, Nicole Kidman, Matthew McConaughey, Eva Mendes, Robert Pattinson, Brad Pitt, Tom Hardy, Shia LaBeouf, Jessica Chastain, Reese Witherspoon, Kristen Stewart, Kriisten Dunst, Bruce Willis, etc. But –thankfully- great actors will also grace the red carpet like Isabelle Huppert, Jean-Louis Trintignant, Mads Mikkelsen, Juliette Binoche, and Marion Cotillard.

To check announcement at official site go here or check the press release here.

Watch Main Selection trailers @MOC
Watch Un Certain Regard trailers @MOC
Watch Short Films trailers @MOC
Watch Cinéfondation trailers @MOC
Watch trailers and clips at Cannes Official site.

Cannes 2012 Official Selection Preview - South Korean Movies

There are two movies from South Korea and both are absolutely Must Be Seen for me for different reasons. These are my motives and reasons.

다른 나라에서 Da-reun Na-ra-e-suh (In Another Country) by Hong Sangsoo

Not really familiar with director that came to be known by me with his 2010 Un Certain Regard top award winner 하하하 HaHaHa but film stars one of my favorite actresses, Isabelle Huppert that makes me watch all her movies, a task that is quite difficult as she's a very busy actress.

What do I expect from this movie? Isabelle Huppert always does very intense characters in mostly very strange movies that travel the intensity level from light to really heavy. Of course there are some exceptions but this movie seems to be no exception and got my clue from synopsis.

A young film student and her mother run away seaside town of Mohang to escape their mounting debt. The young woman begins writing a script for a short film in order to calm her nerves:
Three women named Anne appear, and each woman consecutively visits the seaside town of Mohang. The first Anne is a successful film director. The second Anne is a married woman secretly in an affair with a Korean man. The third Anne is a divorcée whose husband left her for a Korean woman.
A young woman tends to the small hotel by the Mohang foreshore owned by her parents. A certain lifeguard can always be seen wandering up and down the beach that lies nearby. Each Anne stays at this small hotel, receives some assistance from the owner’s daughter, and ventures onto the beach where they meet the lifeguard.

With this plot summary you have to expect a complex -hopefully very intense- narrative that trailer and any of the available movie clips do not show as we know that narrative complexity is something that is not easy to show with a few scenes.



Hong Sangsoo in Cannes

His Cannes history starts in 1998 when Kangwon-do ui him (The Power of Kangwon Province) is shown at Un Certain Regard section, a section that sees him coming back with 3 more films and where in 2010 wins the top award with HaHaHa. He has competed twice for the Palme d'Or, first in 2004 with Yeojaneun namjaui miraeda (Woman is the Future of Man) then in 2005 with Geuk jang jeon (Tale of Cinema).

No doubt that acclaimed Korean cinema auteur has a significant history with Cannes, add that film is the vehicle for Huppert performance and you know that film could get honors at fest. With the eclectic jury I foresee that this film could call their attention and know that Huppert could be considered for the Best Actress award. As I refuse to learn more about this movie and have very little idea about Huppert character, consequently my first impression is that she has small opportunities to win as seems that Cotillard and Kidman characters are a lot more dramatic.

My love affair with Korean cinema is very limited as I have identified several key directors that I try to follow and watch everything from them; but discovering new ones has become a difficult task as I have had non-positive experiences with many films I have seen. Maybe is time to try again and definitively this director has to be on top of the list.

I know there are many of us that watch everything with Isabelle Huppert, so if you are one of them then this film is must be seen for you too.

Film Specs
Directed by Hong Sangsoo
Written by Hong Sangsoo
Starring: Isabelle Huppert, Junsag Yu, Yumi Jung
Language: English and Korean
Nationality: South Korea (and France: co-production with Les Films du Camélia)
Runtime: 1h 28m
Production Year: 2012
Aka: Dareun Narayeseo

End Notes
Hong Sangsoo at Cannes go here.
Movie at Cannes site go here.
Director asianwiki go here.

돈의 맛 Do-nui Mat (The Taste of Money), Im Sang-soo

Highly excited that outstanding 하녀Hanyeo (The Housemaid) has a sequel (or so it seems) as I don't mind to continue learning about Korean wealth and Chaebul/Korean conglomerates stories; but is the expectation of how story will be told what makes me feel like "dying" to watch this film. Check the synopsis.

Young-jak who is a private secretary of madam Baek, the center power of Korean conglomerate, deals with immoral private issues of her wealthy family.
He reports to madam Baek that her husband, Mr. Yoon is having an affair with a Filipino nanny, Eva. Madam Baek is now despaired, then greedily seducing Young-jak for her sexual desire.
On the other hand, he begins to feel conflicted by madam Baek’s daughter, the only family member who approaches him with the true heart.
Lost between his morality and shortcut to successful life, he has to make the biggest decision he’s ever made to choose whom he will hang on to, in order to survive in this harsh world.

I know synopsis seems like a soap opera but knowing Im Sang-soo storytelling technique used in The Housemaid I expect that while narrative still will be a melodrama, visual storytelling absolutely will transport you into the world of cinema art. Just watch trailer and look at awesome film stills.



What do I expect from film? Absolutely stunning, breathtaking images thanks to outstanding locations, set designs, excellent camera, great editing, and other tech specs that are used to impressively recreate wealth in modern times. At least that's what Im Sang-soo did in The Housemaid and was truly close to perfection. Add great actors' performances plus amazing director storytelling technique and you get everything that's in my mind.

Im Sang-soo in Cannes

Not a long history as Im Sang-soo debuted in Cannes with The Housemaid but I'm sure that film being in Cannes allowed director international awareness. I wonder if this time film will get recognition but if film is as similar to The Housemaid as I imagine then film should get recognition for its cinematography and set design; unfortunately Cannes does not give any awards in those categories. Sigh.

Film Specs
Directed by Im Sang-soo
Written by Lim Sang-soo
Starring: Yoon Yeo-Jung, Kim Kang-Woo, Kim Hyo-Jin, Baek Yeo-Jung, On Joo-Wan
Language: Korean
Nationality: South Korea
Runtime: 114 minutes
Production Year: 2012

End Notes
Im Sang-soo at Cannes go here.
Movie at Cannes site go here.
Director at asianwiki go here.
Movie site go here.

Cannes 2012 Official Selection Preview - On The Road by Walter Salles

Since I learned about this film, long before Cannes, I became apprehensive as is not easy for me to imagine a very American story in the hands of a Brazilian director that hasn't done movies in non-Portuguese language that move me. Add that project has been regarded for decades as one of the most elusive unmade movies since 1957 when Warner Brothers offered to buy the rights to Francis Ford Coppola in 1979 buying the film rights to Jack Kerouac's classic novel with the same name and you get apprehensive and nervous.

Seems that screenplay took about 4 years to complete and there was a "war" between the Salles team and the father/son Coppolas and to be honest I find quite interesting the story of how this film has been unmade for 55 years, at least more than the story I can imagine will be told from Kerouac's novel that I found to be extremely complex yet fascinating.

So my expectations are quite low in almost every sense except when it comes to the very interesting cast. Starring Sam Riley an actor that simply blew my mind in amazing Anton Corbijn's Control plus THAT actress that I follow long before she became a celebrity, Kristen Stewart, and hopes improve. Plus film has to be peppered with good performances by well-known actors like Kirsten Dunst, Amy Adams, Viggo Mortensen, Elizabeth Moss, Terrence Howard, and Steve Buscemi. Still, we have to see what Salles managed to do with them.

One thing I'm sure about this film, that will not have anything to do with mainstream commercial movies as everything about this film suggest arty film, including being in competition at Cannes. So, there has to be a reason why film was selected to the most famous festival and this makes me VERY curious plus gives me hope of having a good cinematic experience when finally I watch it. After all hope is the last to die.

Last have to consider that Salles seems to be specialized in "road movies" as almost all of his honored films tell this kind of stories; consequently this is his best credential to hope that On The Road -obviously a road movie- will be a great film. See following synopsis.

New York, the late 1940's. After his father's death, Sal Paradise, an aspiring 24- year old writer, meets Dean Moriarty, a 20-year old ex-jailbird with flexible morals and a devastating charm. Dean is fascinated by Sal's obsession with writing; Sal is fascinated by Dean's unfettered freedom. They spend their intense, alcohol-fueled nights dreaming of another world, forming a Friendship that will take them on the road across the USA. After a stay at Bull Lee's place in Louisiana, Sal, Dean and his beautiful young wife Marylou form a merry threesome, traveling naked and freely enjoying themselves, a suspended moment in time.

So after going from negative to positive what exactly do I expect from this movie? Great visuals from Eric Gautier that also worked with Salles in the Motorcycle Diaries and trailer plus film stills promise them; also expect -or hope- for a non-traditional narrative style (done in the editing room), hopefully interesting enough to find some similarities to the written style of the book -but I know this will be hard, still will be a great surprise. Last, good performances by actors that I know can do great character interpretations.



Salles in Cannes

With about 22 films Salles comes to Cannes relatively late, but we have to consider that most of his earlier work are documentaries or shorts; still is surprising to find that acclaimed Central Station didn't go to Cannes, but probably was because won the Golden Bear at 1998 Berlinale. His Cannes history starts in 1999 when he was a jury member for Short Films competition and came back in 2002 to again be a jury member at the main competition.

Is not until 2004 when he comes with a film, Diarios de Motocicleta (The Motorcycle Diaries) that was in competition and went to win the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury plus the Francois Chalais Award; comes back with a short in Paris Je T'Aime at Un Certain Regard and in 2007 with another short in Chacun son Cinema (To Each His Own Cinema) that was Out of Competition. Returns in 2008 with his acclaimed film Linha de Passe competing for the Palme d'Or.

No doubt that Salles has been around the festival circuit with great success, but his Cannes history seems too short to be significant; which means that he has only opportunities to impress and maybe, only maybe, he will impress with this movie and collect top honors. This is a film that I have to watch to give any recommendation, nevertheless is a Must Be Seen movie for me because one I actress that makes me watch everything she does.

Film Specs
Directed by Walter Salles
Written by José Rivera
Starring: Sam Riley, Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart, Kirsten Dunst, Amy Adams, Viggo Mortensen, Elizabeth Moss
Language: English
Nationality: Majority French (France, UK, USA, Brazil)
Runtime: 2h 17m
Production Year:  2011
NorthAmerican Rights: AMC Networks, jointly distributed by IFC Films and Sundance Selects

End Notes
On the Road at Cannes site go here.
Salles in Cannes go here.
Good Article go here.
Mk2 go here. Check great posters.
Movie Official site here.
Unifrance go here.

Last a fascinating map that shows the traveling by the man (Kerouac), the book and the movie.



Why the long post? When I was a very young kid I "found" the beat movement and I adopted as much as I could due to younger age; stayed with me until The Beatles came to America, then EVERYTHING changed. The movie theme is very emotional for me. Sigh.