2014 Cannes Check #5: Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne

The master filmmakers brothers from Belgium are what we can consider Cannes regulars and belong to a very exclusive group of directors that have won twice the Palme d'Or with Rosetta (1999) and L'Enfant (2005). They also have won Best Screenplay with Le Silence de Lorna (2008) and Grand Prize of the Jury with Le gamin au vélo (2011).

This is their sixth time in competition and ninth time in Cannes, with a history that started in 1987 with the screening of their first feature film (before they did short and documentaries), Falsch in the Quinzaine, came back again in 1996 with La Promesse and twelve years after their first visit win their first Palme d'Or with Rosetta. From then on their films are premiered at the most prestigious film festival and his latest, Deux Jours, Une Nuit is no exception as is in this year competition.

The brothers filmmaking style is peculiar and particular as to me it is a mixture of soft raw-realism bordering documentary-like (some call it "naturalism") with a very hypnotic narrative development that absolutely grabs the viewer and does not let him go until well after the movie is over. Then they are able to get from well-known actors extremely good performances but the same happens with non-actors, which to me is impressive as they made both type of performers to reach almost the same levels of professional performance, many done more with face and body expressions than with words.

Perhaps not many have made the following comparison but I feel that the Dardenne brothers filmmaking style can be compared to the early work of one of the Chinese Sixth Generation of Filmmakers. Yes, I find their style similar to the early work of Jia Zhang-ke (he is a jury member this year) but their main difference is that Jia Zhang-ke images/compositions/visuals tend to be breathtaking while Dardenne's tend to be natural/normal/bordering in pedestrian just like what the normal human being sees every day.

Have seen almost all their films, still have several documentaries and shorts to see, and find that their last five feature films show how much they have "perfected" their master style, so in a way expect that Two Days, One Night will continue to show their pursuit of perfection. This film in particular also calls my attention because Marion Cotillard, an actress I highly enjoy and follow her career.

Will the Dardenne win their third Palme d'Or to become the first in a third level of three-times Palme d'Or winners? I believe that eventually is going to happen but not sure if will happen this year, even when thinking about the style of the directors in the jury or the type of films of the actors, we can estimate that their styles are VERY similar to Dardenne's style, at least a lot more than any other director in the competition. So who knows, but the odds sites before the fest begins give not-high/not-low odds to win the top award, maybe the odds will change once we learn if film is NOT scheduled for the final days.

Basic Info about Deux Jours, Une Nuit (Two Days, One Night)
Directors: Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne
Scriptwriters: Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne
Language: French
Runtime: 95 min
Production countries: Belgium, France and Italy
Production companies: Archipel 35, Eyeworks, Les Films du Fleuve, BIM Distribuzione.
Starring: Marion Cotillard

Plot Summary
Sandra has only one weekend to visit her colleagues and - with the help of her husband - convince them to sacrifice their bonuses so she can keep her job.

The Trailer

Escape to The Movies: YOU ARE WRONG ABOUT "SPIDER-MAN 3"

Shots fired.

Original review of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2

Also: INTERMISSION

The Escapist : Escape to the Movies : You Are Wrong About Spider-Man 3

67th Festival de Cannes - The Short Film Corner

Have to admit that 2014 is the year that Cannes Film Festival organizers are really going digital and using more professionally many of the available tools, media, sites, etc available in Internet and to web developers. As an example is the first year the fest has a tumblr page but also, and more relevant, this is the first year I see ALL shorts in festival in one place at their official site, as My Short Film Catalogue has the shorts from the Competition, Cinéfondation, Quinzaine des réalisateurs, La Semaine de la Critique and the shorts participating in the traditional Short Film Corner market.

As you know I have covered in different ways the shorts in competition and in the parallel sections but listing all the shorts in the Corner is a titanic effort, so will only list the 38 sections that organize this year Corner participants as each name gives a good idea of the shorts that are included in each section.

12 Minutes About Peace
American Pavilion
Arabic Short Films by Twofour54 - Best of
Best of Lodz Film School 2014
Best of the 48 Hour Film Project 2014
Campus Moviefest Films 2014
Canada: Not Short On Talent
Chapman Showcase 2014
Croatian Shorts
ESAV (École supérieure d'audiovisuel) Université Toulouse 2
German Short Films Cannes Edition 2014
Global Russians - 2014
Griffith Film School 2014 Showcase
Guanajuato IFF Presents: Best Mexican Shorts
Japan Shorts
La Collection: La Trentaine vu par les ecrivains
La Femis 2014
La Residence du Festival
Le Court de Wallonie Bruxelles au Short Film Corner
Le Fresnoy Studio National des Arts Contemporains
Le Groupe ESRA Presente
Lituanian Shorts 2013-2014
London Film Academy
Made in MED Euromed Audiovisuel III
Made in Qatar presented by The Doha Film Institute
Madrid en Corto 2013
Mexican Film Institute (IMCINE) Shorts 2014
Munk Studio Polish Filmmakers Association
Next Generation Short Tiger 2014
Nordic Factory
Polish Shorts
Romanian Short Waves
Scandinavian Shorts
The Creative Mind Group
The School of Visual Arts
UWM Graduate & Faculty
UWM Undergraduate
VAF Wildcard Shorts 2014

There are few sections that I suggest you do not skip as show the talent to come in French cinema, I'm talking about La Femis and Le Fresnoy; but eventually I'll check all the shorts in all the sections during my "spare" time.

To start enjoying reading about each film plus watching stills and/or some moving images go here that is the start of the catalogue that can also be browsed by genre (comedy, crime, drama, etc).

Enjoy!!!

2014 Cannes Check #4: Naomi Kawase

One of the two female directors in competition this year and one of the most amazing directors that use the language of images, silences and beauty to tell poignant stories that usually deal with not-so-pleasant -yet very simple- themes, at least for people living in the west.

Not really familiar with all her work as she has an extensive filmography consisting of mainly documentaries and documentary shorts, but VERY familiar with her later feature films like Mogari No Mori (The Mourning Forest) and Hanezu no tsuki (Hanezu) that absolutely blew my mind for her impressive and particular visual/narrative storytelling style.

Born on May 30, 1969 in Nara, Japan. Naomi Kawase (河瀨直美) was also known as Sentō Naomi (when she was married) and had a difficult childhood (abandoned by parents, raised by great-aunt) that gave her insights and inspiration for one of her movies, Moe no suzaku (Sukazu) that went in 1997 to Cannes in the Directors' Fortnight section and won the Caméra d'Or.

Her Cannes history continues in 2003 when Sharasôju (Shara) is screened in competition, continues in 2007 when Mogari No Mori was in competition and won the Grand Prix, then in 2011 Hanezu No Tsuki was in competition and last, Futatsume no mado (Still the Water) will screen in competition this year. Also in 2009 she received the Carrosse d’Or from the Directors’ Fortnight and last year she was a member of the main competition Jury. We can say that all her feature films after Mogari No Mori have opened in Cannes, making her one of the very-few female directors that usually their films open in the most prestigious festival.

Last year as a Jury member she gave an interview where she says that Godard, Tarkovsky, Erice are filmmakers that influenced her style , her way of depicting reality, so there you have a reference on how she sees herself as what viewers see in her movies probably is not the same. Me, well, absolutely do not see any of the three in the Kawase's movies I have seen, indeed I see more Ozu, Mizogushi, but perhaps it is just me.

Imagine that her latest film, Still the Water, will be visually stunning with a "simple" story told in her very particular style. If you wish to learn more about Naomi Kawase suggest you check her official site here, but she hasn't update a the English version since 2011, the Japanese version is up to date.

Basic Info about 2つ目の窓 Futatsume No Mado (Still the Water)
Director: Naomi Kawase
Scriptwriter: Naomi Kawase
Language: Japanese
Runtime: 1hr 56m
Production countries: Japan, Spain and France
Production companies: Kumie, Commes des Cinemas, arte, Eddie Saeta.

Plot Summary
On the subtropical Japanese island of Amami, traditions about nature remain eternal. During the full-moon night of traditional dances in August, 16-year-old Kaito discovers a dead body floating in the sea. His girlfriend Kyoko will attempt to help him understand this mysterious discovery. Together, Kaito and Kyoko will learn to become adults by experiencing the interwoven cycles of life, death and love.

Stills from film and production

2014 Cannes Check #3: Xavier Dolan

If number 1 and 2 were easy, number 3 was a lot harder to define as there are several directors in crowded third place. To help my decision had to think about what touches me more in a movie, the images/visuals, then it became clear that Xavier Dolan had to be the third director in the Cannes Check series.

What has been in the past years highly publicized as his most desired goal, finally became reality this year, Xavier Dolan has a film in competition and yes, I got very excited as what many call "enfant terrible" deserved the honor since a while ago.

Cannes has had a lot of "enfant terribles" but the latest and the youngest right now is Xavier Dolan that already has a "long" history with Cannes that starts when in 2009 his first film J'ai tué ma mère (I Killed My Mother) is screened in the Directors' Fortnight and wins the Prix Regards Jeune, CICAE Award and SACD Prize; continues with his colorful second film Les Amours Imaginaires (Heartbeats) in 2010 being in the Un Certain Regard section and winning the section award plus the Regards Jeunes Prize, again in Un Certain Regard section his Laurence Anyways wins the 2012 Queer Palm and now his latest film Mommy finally makes the main competition. Sigh.

Yes have seen ALL his feature films, have been very impressed since his first movie until his latest before Mommy, Tom à la ferme (Tom at the Farm) -which I found to be a very unsettling thriller type with awesome visuals- a film that was in competition at the 2013 Biennale where won the FIPRESCI Prize. Please tell me, isn't this an amazing film history? Especially for a kid that is only 25 years-old! Amazing.

Born on March 20, 1989 in the beautiful town of Québec, Canada, he grows to become one the most interesting contemporary world directors and actors (acting since he was 6 years-old) -he usually directs himself in his films with the exception of Laurence Anyways. Interesting but also outspoken and controversial -not only about homosexuality but about "everything", just as his movies are. I like his movies and I like his projected persona that many times I see reflected when he acts as well as when he directs.

I learned a long while back not to have expectations regarding everything and especially movies, so I do not expect something specific about the first Dolan's movie that made it into the competition, still I'm very curious to see why Thierry Freamaux and his colleagues chose Dolan's Mommy to have the highest cinema possible honor before winning a Palme d'Or. So what have we been able to learn about Mommy? Not much as always happens with his movies. Until this moment there are a couple of generic film stills that look more like characters photographs that absolutely say nothing about the film or the character.

Nevertheless, we know is another story about a mother and her son, but from what synopsis suggests, we can say that film will be nothing like I Killed My Mother.

There is no Xavier Dolan official site, but if you wish to see a fan made site suggest you go here -in French- where you can find some info about the director and his films.

Basic Info about Mommy
Director: Xavier Dolan
Scriptwriter: Xavier Dolan
Language: French
Runtime: 140 minutes
Production countries: Canada and France
Production companies: Metafilms, Alchemy 24,
Starring: Anne Dorval (I Killed My Mother and Heartbeats), Suzanne Clément (I Killed My Mother and Laurence Anyways)

Plot Summary
In a fictional Canada, a new law allows distressed parents to abandon their troubled children to the hospital system. Diane “Die” Despres, a feisty widow, tries to cope with Steve, her wild yet charismatic ADHD son. While they both try to make ends meet, Kyla, a mysterious neighbor, offers her help. As Kyla’s heart-warming presence becomes increasingly intense, questions emerge about her own mysterious life, and the way her destiny may ultimately be linked to that of Steve and Die.

The inane film stills

Check this recent interview, talks a lot about himself - in English.



Here is his reaction to learning he was in Cannes - in French.

2014 Cannes Check #2: Andrey Zvyagintsev

AndreyZvganistev (андрей звягинцев) is in Cannes for the third time as he won the Un Certain Regard Special Jury Prize in 2011 with his film Elena and was also in competition with his awesome film Izgnanie (The Banishment) in 2007 -male lead won best actor-, four years after his also amazing Vozvrashchenie (The Return) won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 2003. Seems like a short Cannes history but he has only three (3) feature films and all are highly honored in festivals all over the world; his fourth feature film, Leviathan, premieres in competition in this year Cannes.

Born February 6th, 1964 in Novosibirsk (Russia) he is perhaps a less-known director and actor with only nine (9) films in his filmography and more than half (5) are short films. In my opinion his first two feature films, The Return and The Banishment (both have reviews here) are extraordinary for the use of images, color, compositions and very unusual storytelling style told in slowish to slow pace; his third film Elena is different, looking/feeling more contemporary cinema which was a bit disappointing for me. Perhaps because his two first films are set in the past while Elena is set in the "new Russia" is why his style becomes more raw-ish realism and has much less visual poetry.

Have seen a few stills from his latest movie, Leviathan and seems that could have stunning visuals but story is set in the present, still this time is not a big city setting so perhaps he has more freedom to visually exploit its surroundings and the following image tells me that maybe I am right. If you have not seen his previous films I strongly suggest to immerse into his early work to feast your senses.

If Leviathan has an "intriguing" narrative then perhaps the mix of style and form could please some jury members as some of the directors indeed work with similar styles to his Elena. His career is just starting and wonder if is his time to win Cannes top award, maybe not but would not be surprised if he gets other awards.

Then maybe this film could go back to his roots as according to producer Alexander Rodnyansky

"A unique film for Andrei, Leviathan has his trademark visual style and narrative but it is also breathtakingly beautiful. Leviathan, is a modern retelling of the Biblical story of Job and it is populated with amazing intricately developed characters that we can easily feel empathy for. It deals with some of the most important social issues of contemporary Russia while never becoming an artist’s sermon or a public statement, it is a story of love and tragedy experienced by ordinary people and both stories are universal and will be appreciated by people around the world".

The film was shot in the northern town of Kirovsk on the Kola Peninsula near Murmansk and according to the few stills that have been released, scenes seem truly breathtaking. Another remarkable difference from his previous films is that Leviathan has lots of characters (15).

If you wish to learn more about the director please visit his official site here. Yes he is the one that has arguably been called as Tarkovsky's "successor".

Basic Info about Левиафан Leviathan (Leviafan)
Director: Andrey Zvganistev
Scriptwriter: Andrey Zvganistev and Oleg Negin
Language: Russian
Runtime: 141 minutes
Production countries: Russia
Production companies: Non Stop Production
Starring: Elena Lyadova (The Banishment and Elena).

Plot Summary
Kolia lives in a small town near the Barents Sea, in North Russia. He has his own auto-repair shop. His shop stands right next to the house where he lives with Lilya, his young wife, and his son from a previous marriage, Romka. Vadim Sergeyich, the Mayor of the town, wants to take away his business, his house and his land. First he tries buying off Kolia but Kolia cannot stand losing everything he has, not only the land, but also all the beauty that has surrounded him from the day of his birth. So Vadim Sergeyich starts being more aggressive.

Film will be a drama gradually transforming into tragedy. The script begins as a social drama, a relationship drama, a drama of human insecurity in the new country. Also the story itself is tied to the present day; it is rooted in the familiar pain of reality.

A movie still.

2014 Cannes Check #1: Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Series Intro

Today feel like starting a short series about the directors and their films in the Cannes 2014 official selection. Just to check some facts we have to consider that in the competition there are directors that already won one or two Palme d'Or as well as winning Jury Prize, Grand Prix, Best Director, Camera d'Or and yes, even Best Actor.

Then you have the directors that for the first time are in competition but already won multiple awards at collateral sections including Un Certain Regard, Quinzaine des réalisateurs and/or Semaine de la Critique. So we can say that most are Croisette connoisseurs as only two directors are new to the competition and to Cannes.

To start the series let's talk about one favorite directors, one I follow his career, admire him from afar, like some movies more than others and have seen all his work up to this moment: Nuri Bilge Ceylan.

Nuri Bilge Ceylan

In Cannes for the sixth time, he already won the Grand Prix (2011 and 2003) plus Best Director (2008). The first time in Cannes was in 1995 with his first film, Koza (Cocoon), a short film that was in competition; his latest movie is Kış Uykusu (Winter Sleep) is in competition for the 2014 Palme d'Or.

Born in Bakırköy, Istanbul on 26 January 1959. A world renown director and photographer with only eight (8) films that tell about his masterful use of images, silences and unusual storytelling style. I simply love Distant, Climates and Once Upon a Time in Anatolia -all three have reviews here- and accordingly to the recent released Winter Sleep images I believe that film will be visually stunning as he filmed again in Anatolia but this time in striking Cappadocia during wintertime.

Believe that his movies are not for all audiences but if you can appreciate stunning visuals that usually move very slowly or don't move at all (magnificent very long takes) with a story told with very few words -long silences-, lots of actors face/body expressions and intriguing everyday people situations, then perhaps you will be able to see his "very long" films, as for example, Once upon a time in Anatolia is 150 minutes long and Winter Sleep is even longer with196 minutes long. To me movie-length is not enough as always when his movies are over I want more.

Nuri Bilge Ceylan has not yet won the Palm d'Or and in my opinion is about time that he wins one, but wonder if the eclectic jury will give him the award as most of the jury members that are directors, are NOT visually-oriented in their films.  Still, up to yesterday odds sites, the betting community are giving to this movie the best odds, predicting that could be the top award winner.

If you wish to learn more about this excellent director please go to his official site here and strongly suggest to check his breathtaking photography galleries as will allow you to understand one of the reasons why his films are visually stunning, he has an extremely interesting eye, perspective and composition as his photos clearly tell how he sees his world, his surroundings and in my opinion, he almost perfectly translates what and how he sees things to his movies.

Basic info about Kış Uykusu (Winter Sleep)
Director: Nuri Bilge Ceylan
Scriptwriter: Nuri Bilge Ceyland and Ebru Ceylan
Language: Turkish
Production countries: Turkey, Germany and France
Production companies: NBC Film, Bredok Film Production, Memento Films International, Zeyno Film.

Plot Summary
Aydin, a retired comedian, owns a small hotel in central Anatolia with his young wife Nihal and his sister Necla, who is coping with her recent divorce. During the winter, snow covers the ground and boredom brings the return of old memories, pushing Aydin to flee…

Some magnificent stills from Winter Sleep.

The trailer