Nanni Moretti and the Cast of Il Sol Dell’Avvenire Light Up Cannes
The iconic Cannes Film Festival celebrated its 76th edition in style, with a plethora of stars gracing the red carpet. One of the highlights of this year’s festival was Nanni Moretti and the cast of Il Sol Dell’Avvenire, who were ready to leave a mark on the red carpet and enjoy themselves.
Surprises in the Campaign for the Palme D’Or
The results of the analysis of the possibilities and perspectives of the films in competition for the ultimate prize, Palme d’Or, did not present any significant surprises. The French Anatomy of a Fall by Justine Triet won the coveted accolade, while The Zone of Interest by Jonathan Glazer settled for the Grand Prix du Jury. The legendary Aki Kaurismäki, who was widely touted to win, won the Jury Prize, but the Palme d’Or escaped him once again with his romantic drama Dead Leaves. Justine Triet’s win also saw her become the third woman to win the prestigious award.
Cannes Festival: More Than Just a Festival
The 12-day festival saw great films, witnessed some disputes, and was the scene of several controversies. The festival’s organization, however, was impeccable, with rigid security control implemented both to enter the Marché du Film and to the screenings. Punctuality, though, was an issue, even though audiences were summoned forty-five minutes in advance to have time to display bags and pass metal detectors before getting a good location.
The festival also did away with print forms for the accredited and the characteristic bag or backpack that usually accompanies such events. Instead, everything was sold at the official store, and everything essential was in the plastic tag hung around the neck, which had the QR code validating the tickets, accreditation, and Internet connection code.
The festival is much more than a festival and has transformed into a great show window that amalgamates independent cinema with mainstream Hollywood movies and television and media alike.
A Star-Studded and Balanced Competition
The festival’s competition boasted some of the biggest names in cinema, including Ken Loach, Wim Wenders, Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Hirokazu Kore-Eda, Nani Moretti, Aki Kaurismäki, Wes Anderson, Jonathan Glazer, Alice Rohrwacher, Todd Haynes, Marco Bellocchio, Catherine Breillat, and Jessica Hausner. The selection was also diverse, with directors from Vietnam and Senegal featured.
Anatomy of a Fall Takes the Palme D’Or
French director, Justine Triet stole the show with her judicial thriller, Anatomy of a Fall, winning the coveted prize. The film takes a tight look at institutions, beginning with marriage. German actress, Sandra Hüller, was a strong candidate for the Best Actress award, but it went to Merve Dizdar for About Dry Grasses by Nuri Bilge Ceylan. Meanwhile, Koji Yakusho won the Best Actor award for Perfect Days.
Cannes Continues to Be the Festival of Festivals
Every year, the festival attracts a massive crowd, colonizing Cannes for twelve days. The streets transform into a theatrical extension of natural glamor, with limousines, yachts, and runway fashion. Yet, in spite of this, Cannes delivers an impeccable selection of films, guaranteed to satiate the most demanding cinephile’s palate.
This year’s festival was a resounding success, and despite the controversies, it remains the festival of festivals.
