Festival de Cannes 1987-1997

Mongol

A stunning epic about the formation years of Temudgin before he became Genghis Khan. Sergei Bodrov (Prisoner of the Mountains) returns with his best film yet that's breath taking and magnificent in every way. Bodrov captures everything perfectly and makes the right choices from the start to the end. A great script that avoids the traps of Hollywood cliches. A superb cast along with ace art direction, editing, score and cinematography. Epic films like this are rare and joy to discover. YRCinema's coverage of current releases.

RIP: Sydney Pollack 1934 - 2008

FESTIVAL 5: Cannes, France

The mother of all festivals which makes it the most important festival in the world. Actually it's four festivals in one, besides the official competition, there are also Un Certain Regard, the Semaine Internationale de la Critique (Critic's Week) and the Quinzaine des Réalisateurs (Directors' Forthnight). The festival also has the biggest film market including the Producer's Network for upcoming films. I will be covering the festival, so check for updates.

The winners will be decided by the jury that includes Sean Penn (president), Sergio Castellitto, Natalie Portman, Alfonso Cuaron, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Alexandra Maria Lara, Rachid Bouchareb, Jeanne Balibar and Marjane Satrapi.

The Official Competition
Fernando Mereilles - Blindness (Canada) (Opening)
Laurent Cantet - Entre les murs (France) Palme d’Or
James Gray - Two Lovers (US)
Nuri Bilge Ceylan - Three Monkeys (Turkey) Best Director
Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne - Le Silence De Lorna (Belgium) Best Screenplay
Arnaud Desplechin - A Christmas Story (France)
Clint Eastwood - Changeling (US)
Atom Egoyan - Adoration (Canada)
Ari Folman - Waltz With Bashir (Israel)
Philippe Garrel - La Frontiere De L'Aube (France)
Matteo Garrone - Gomorra (Italy) Grand Prix
Charlie Kaufman - Synecdoche, New York (US)
Eric Khoo - My Magic (Singapore)
Lucretia Martel - La Mujer Sin Cabeza (Argentina)
Brillante Mendoza - Serbis (The Philippines)
Kornel Mondruczo - Delta (Hungary-Germany)
Walter Salles & Daniela Thomas - Linha De Passe (Brazil) Best Actress to Sandra Corveloni
Paolo Sorrentino - Il Divo (Italy) Jury Prize
Pablo Trapero - Leonera (Argentina-South Korea)
Wim Wenders - The Palermo Shooting (Germany-Italy)
Jia Zhangke - 24 City (China)
Steven Soderbergh - Che (US) Best Actor to Benicio Del Toro

Out of competition
Steven Spielberg - Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull (US)
Mark Osborne and John Stevenson - Kung Fu Panda (US)
Ji-Woon Kim - The Good, The Bad, The Weird (South Korean)
Woody Allen - Vicky Cristina Barcelona (Spain-US)
Barry Levinson - What Just Happened (US) (Closing)

Special screenings
Marina Zenovich - Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (US)
Wong Kar-wai - Ashes Of Time Redux (Hong Kong-China-Taiwan)
Daniel Leconte - C'est Dur D'etre Aime Par Des Cons (France)
Marco Tullio Giordana - Sangue Pazzo (Italy-France)
Terence Davies - Of Time And The City (UK)

Midnight Screenings
Emir Kusturica - Maradona (Spain)
Jennifer Lynch - Surveillance (US)
Hong-Jin Na - The Chaser (South Korea)

UN CERTAIN REGARD
“Hunger,” UK, Steve McQueen (Opening) Caméra d'Or
“A festa da menina morta,” Brazil, Matheus Nachtergaele
“Afterschool,” U.S., Antonio Campos
“De Ofrivilliga,” Sweden, Ruben Ostlund
“Je veux voir,” France, Joana Hadjithomas, Khalil Joreige
“Johnny Mad Dog,” France, Jean-Stephane Sauvaire
“La vie moderne (profiles paysans)”, France, Raymond Depardon
“Los Bastardos,” Mexico, Amat Escalante
“Milh handha al-bahr,” (Salt of This Sea), Palestine, Annemarie Jacir
“O’ Horten,” Norway-Germany, Bent Hamer
“Soi Cowboy,” U.K., Thomas Clay
“Tin Che,” (Parking), Taiwan, Chung Mong-Hong
"Tokyo!," France-Japan, Bong Joon-ho, Michel Gondry, Leos Carax
"Tokyo Sonata," Japan, Kiyoshi Kurosawa
“Tulpan,” Russia-Germany, Sergey Dvortsevoy Un Certain Regard Prix
"Tyson," U.S., James Toback
“Versailles,” France, Pierre Schoeller
“Wendy and Lucy,” U.S., Kelly Reichardt
“Wolke 9” (Cloud Nine), Germany, Andreas Dresen
“Yi ban haishui, yi ban huoyan,” China, Fendou Liu

Special Jury President's screening
Alison Thompson - The Third Wave (US)

For more info: Festival de Cannes

Semaine Internationale de la Critique
Christophe Van Rompaey - Moscow, Belgium (Belgium)
Emily Atef - The Stranger In Me (Germany)
Duane Hopkins - Better Things (UK)
Pablo Fendrik - Blood Appears (Argentina-France-Germany)
Aida Begic – Snow (Bosnia-Herzegovina-Germany-France)
Anna Novion - Grown Ups (France-Sweden)
Valeria Gaia Germanica - Everybody Dies But Me (Russia)

Opening film
Ronit Elkabetz and Shlomi Elkabetz - Seven Days (Israel-France)

Closing film
Rodrigo Pla – The Desert Within (Mexico)

Special screening
Dominique Abel and Fiona Gordon and Bruno Romy - Rumba (Belgium-France)

For more info: http://www.semainedelacritique.com/

Quinzaine des Réalisateurs
“Acne,” Uruguay-Spain-Argentina-Mexico, Federico Veiroj
"Aquele querido mes de agosto," Portugal-France, Miguel Gomes
“Boogie,” Romania, Radu Muntean
“Les Bureaux de Dieu,” France, Claire Simon
“El Cant dels ocells,” Spain, Albert Serra
"De la guerre," France, Bertrand Bonello
"Le Dernier Maquis," France-Algeria, Rabah Ameur-Zaimeche
"Eldorado," Belgium-France, Bouli Lanners
"Eleve libre," Belgium-France, Joachim Lafosse
"Liverpool," Argentina-France-Netherlands-Spain-Germany, Lisandro Alonso
"Monsieur Morimoto," France, Nicola Sornaga
“Knitting,” China, Yin Lichuan
"Now Showing," Philippines-France, Raya Martin
“Il Resto della notte,” Italy, Francesco Munzi
"Salamandra," Argentina-France-Germany, Pablo Aguero
"Shultes," Russia, Bakur Bakuradze
"Blind Loves," Slovakia, Juraj Lehotsky
"Lonely Tune of Tehran," Iran, Saman Salour
“Tony Manero,” Chile-Brazil, Pablo Larrain
"Le Voyage aux Pyrenees," France, Jean-Marie Larrieu, Arnaud Larrieu

Opening film
“Four Nights With Anna,” France-Poland, Jerzy Skolimowski

Closing film
"The Pleasure of Being Robbed,” U.S., Josh Safdie

For more info: http://www.quinzaine-realisateurs.com/

Salt of This Sea

Annemarie Jacir's beautiful film depicts the ordeal of the Palestinian people through the eyes of Palestinian-American woman who returns to Ramallah to trace her parents roots. It gives a rare glimpse of the daily ordeal where the people trapped in their own country. The film's focus is the young woman's self-discovery and empowerment that sends her on a journey where she finds love and little hope. Given the heavy topic, the film stays accessible and full of humor thanks to the actors and Jacir. While the film critizes Israel, it doesn't villainize it. Saleh Bakri (The Band's Visit) continues to impress and shows potential for international stardoom like Omar Sharif. YRCinema's coverage of the Cannes Film Festival.

Il Divo

Paolo Sorrentino's film takes a scathing look at one of Italy's most notorious politicians. It seems that cinema's the only place where politicians get a trial where they can't influence the case since they are untouchable in the corrupt system. The film is beautifully shot and acted, however asks too much of its non Italian audiences who have no clue of Italian politics of the last three or four decades. YRCinema's coverage of the Cannes Film Festival.

Synecdoche, New York

Charlie Kaufman directs his most ambitious and darkest script for his debut that features some of the best actors including Philip Seymour Hoffman, Michelle Williams, Samantha Morton, Emily Watson and Dianne Wiest amongst others. The film touches on grand issues of life such as love, loss, death and others that make the film heavier and the humor has a hard time to shine through. The film has all the ingredients that his other scripts and films had. The fact that he's a bold writer and now director makes this film a success, however less accessible. YRCinema's coverage of the Cannes Film Festival.

Gitmek (My Marlon and Brando)

Powerful and poignant docudrama shows the plight of people trapped at borders where bureaucracy reigns. The film blurs the line of documentary and drama about a love struck Turkish actress who sets out to meet her Kurdish lover in Iraq and Iran. While it's a legit quest by actress Ayca Damgaci, it seems crazy to the people she encounters in Turkey and Iran who have more serious issues to deal than chasing romantic notions. Director Huseyin Karabey manages to stay focused and make a larger statement about an issue that affects millions of people around the world but seldom addressed in the media or cinema. YRCinema's coverage of the Cannes Film Festival.

Adoration

Atom Egoyan latest film is intelligent and smart, however heavy handed and pretentious. His work is best when it's subtle like "The Sweet Hereafter" or bold like "Exotica". This film is more close to "Exotica" but fails on parts rather than the whole. There are some moments that shine and then some that borders on ridiculous. YRCinema's coverage of the Cannes Film Festival.

Che (Guerrilla & The Argentine)

Soderbergh's ambitious epic about Ernesto "Che" Guevera is compelling and intriguing in the first two hours but falls flat and redundant in the second two hours. The film was shown as a work in progress and remains to be seen whether it will overcome its serious flaws by the time of its release. Benicio Del Toro takes on where Gael Garcia Bernal left in "The Motorcycle Diaries" and is convincing and compelling as the iconic Che. Soderbergh traces the Cuban revolution in the first part and Che's failure and demise in Bolivia in the second part. The films would be best served as one film instead of two separate features. A lot of actors like Catalina Sandino Moreno and Franka Potente amongst others are underused but Soderbergh manages to have an attractive and sexy cast to attract female audiences that might otherwise ignore a political film. The film follows the trend of filmmakers criticizing the US government. YRCineam's coverage of the Cannes film festival.

O'Horten

Bent Hamer shows his Nordic humor in this whimsical comedy from Norway. The story of retired train conductor shows some heart and humor that takes you places that's unexpected and full of interesting characters and places. This kind of films are great because they go against the Hollywood formula in almost every aspect. YRCinema's coverage of the Cannes Film Festival.

The Song of Sparrows

Majid Majidi's latest film fits well with the rest of his films (Children of Heaven, Color of Paradise, Baran) but it's lighter in tone and more hopeful. The film also gives a glimpse of daily life in Iran that contradicts the Western media's depiction of a oppressed country. The story of poor family's struggles is heartfelt and poignant. Reza Najie gives a powerful performance as the father. YRCinema's coverage of the Cannes Film Festival.

Guide

Vijay Anand's classic is one of the few Bollywood films that stands the test of time. The story of tourist guide whose life and destiny is changed by meeting a tormented and beautiful dancer. It's as daring and provocative as it was when it was released in 1966. Bollywood legends Dev Anand and Waheeda Rehman star with solid performances. The soundtrack by S.D. Burman is an absolute classic and more successful than the film itself. 1001 Films' coverage of the Cannes Film Festival.

The Changeling

Clint Eastwood returns to "Mystic River" territory in this period piece that digs deeper into LAPD's past in corruption. Anybody who thought that LAPD's bad reputation is recent would be shocked to find that it was as bad in the 1920's. Angelina Jolie delivers a powerful performance as a wronged mother whose son disappears. To add insult to the injury she's further abused by the LAPD who instead of finding her missing son, trying to use her for their benefit. The film has some minor problems with its length and the overbearing score by Eastwood as well but hopefully it will get fixed before its release in the fall. YRCinema's coverage of the Cannes Film Festival.

The Edge of Love

Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller shine in this film set during the World War II in England directed by John Maybury which also features a dashing Cillian Murphy and a miscast Matthew Rhys as Dylan Thomas. The script written by Knightley's mother Sharman MacDonald is conventional but Maybury does capture it beautifully. Knightley is pitch perfect and Sienna Miller delivers her best work yet. YRCinema's coverage of the Cannes Film Festival.

Ashes of Time Redux

Wong Kar Wai's new version of one of his early films is much better with the new edit and soundtrack but remains of his weaker works. The film features some of the biggest stars of Asia and is gorgeously shot by Christopher Doyle is the most poetic of all the martial art films. The film mixes martial arts and Speghetti Western asthetics in wonderous ways but the visuals overwhelm the storytelling. YRCinema's coverage of the Cannes Film Festival.

Linha de Passe

Walter Salles returns to Brazil for this film that he co-directed with Daniela Thomas. It's a solid drama about a mother and her four sons and their struggle in Sao Paulo. It's a small budget film and seems more tame than the Brazil we have seen in the "City of God" and "Manda Bala". The story is universal and could happen anywhere. The film also reunites Salles with his actor Vinícius de Oliveira from "Central Station." YRCinema's coverage of the Cannes Film Festival.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Woody Allen replaces London with Barcelona but takes Scarlett Johansson with him but it's Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem who kick some life and magic in his latest film which is a travelogue for Spain as well as one of his lightest comedies in years. The rest of the cast is solid as well, specially Rebecca Hall. A feel good film from Allen is something rare, so this film should please many and will reach a bigger audience than his previous films to the sexy cast. YRCinema's coverage of the Cannes Film Festival.

Three Monkeys (Uç Maymun)

Nuri Bilge Ceylan's third film in the competition is written by his actress wife. The powerful film is weakest of the three after "Distant" and "Climates". The film has all of his trade marks including powerful performances and stunning cinematography. The story is about a family whose existence is threatened by a deal that sends the father to prison while his wife is being taken advantage by his wealthy boss. YRCinema's coverage of the Cannes Film Festival.

Hunger

Artist turned filmmaker Steve McQueen makes a stunning debut in this powerful film that marks one of the best debuts in years. McQueen brings new and fresh vision to cinema that's art as well without compromising any emotional content for the sake of art. It's set in 1981 where IRA prisoners are brutally treated at a prison without having a political status. To protest their condition, the leader Bobby Sands starves himself to death. The film is hard to watch for some but a definitive must for cinephiles. One of the best films at Cannes 2008. YRCinema's coverage of the Cannes Film Festival.

Waltz with Bashir

The cinema of Israel continues to impress with this powerful Animated documentary by Ari Folman. It's also a brave film about the 1980 Sabra and Shantila massacre in Lebanon remembered by some of the soldiers who were involved and are still haunted. Animation continues to prove that it's a great medium least explored and can do wonders beyond live action. This film would have been just a talking heads if it were done traditionally. Creative animation and music takes the viewers to one of the most cruel massacres in the history of Israeli and Palestinian conflict. YRCinema's coverage of the Cannes Film Festival.

Blindness

Fernando Meirelles returns with another knock out after "City of God" and "The Constant Gardener". However the film will divide the critics and audiences by their love or hate for it. The film is as powerful and gutsy as you can expect from Meirelles who shows no signs of selling out or softening up. The film touches a lot of current issues that humans face in this age where humanity and future of earth is at stake. An epidemic blindness tests the love and sanity of a couple played by Mark Ruffalo and Julianne Moore who's the heart and soul of this film. Meirelles use of the color white will make history along others. YRCinema's coverage of the Cannes Film Festival.

My Blueberry Nights

Wong Kar Wai's latest film is lush and beautiful as any of his films. However he doesn't tread into new territory despite making his debut in English and the United States with an all star cast featuring Norah Jones, Jude Law, Rachel Weisz, David Straithern and Natalie Portman.
The film that opened last years Cannes Film Festival disappointed most because of the huge expectations but it's a beautiful film never-the-less that will please WKW fans. His films are poetic and hit the right notes visually with a great soundtrack. YRFilms coverage of films on DVD.

The Secret of the Grain (Graine et le mulet, La)

Abdel Latif Kechiche's powerful film about immigrants in France takes its time to weave the story before it takes off and ends in a dazzling climax. The film features powerful performances and one of the sexiest belly dance ever captured on film thanks to newcomer Hafsia Herzi who's also the heart of the film. Kechiche hits all the right notes and paints an accurate picture of the social issues. The last act of the film is just riveting. YRFilms coverage of upcoming releases.