67th Festival de Cannes Short Films Selection and Cinéfondation Award Winners

Today, Abbas Kiarostami and the Jury announced the winners of the 17th Cinéfondation Selection and there we had our first award ceremony in this edition of the Festival de Cannes.

As we know each of the Cinéfondation prizes have money attached but perhaps most important is that the First Prize winner is also guaranteed that his first feature film will be presented at the Festival de Cannes. So imagine that soon we will be seeing a first feature film by a female director, American Annie Silverstein. Good.

Award winners for the Short Film competition will be announced next Saturday at the festival Awards Ceremony.

Please remember that by Saturday there will be one post with ALL the award winners in the festival, but for now today's winners are in *BLUE.

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4/16/14
While the Official Selection of feature films for the 2014 festival edition will be revealed tomorrow, the list of short films in both sections is unveiled one day in advance. I'm doing this post for info purposes only as of tomorrow will publish in one post all films in the Official Selection.

Short Films Competition

This year the Selection Committee received 3, 450 short films from 128 countries and for the first time an Azeri and a Georgian film will take part in the competition.

Nine films will compete in 2014 for the Short Film Palm d'Or, to be awarded by Abbas Kiarostami, President of the Jury, at the Awards Ceremony of the 67th Festival de Cannes on Saturday, May 24th.

Aïssa, Clément Tréhin-Lalanne, France, 8'
A Kivégzés (The Execution), Petra Szöcs, Hungary and Romania, 14'
Happo-en, Sato Masiko, Ohara Takayoshi, Seki Yutaro, Toyota Masayuki and Hirase Kentaro, Japan, 13'
Ja Vi Elsker (Yes We Love), Hallvar Witzø, Norway, 15'
Leidi, Simón Mesa Soto, Colombia and UK
Les Corps étrangers, Laura Wandel, Belgium, 15'
Sonuncu (The Last One), Sergey Pikalov, Azerbaijan, 15'
The Administration of Glory, Ran Huang, China, 15'
Ukhilavi Sivrtseebi (Invisible Spaces), Dea Kulumbegashvili, Georgia, 10'

To check each short film info, trailer, images, articles, etc. go here.

Cinéfondation Selection

The Cinéfondation Selection selected 16 films (14 fiction films and 2 animation films) among the 1,631 submitted this year by cinema schools from all around the world.

This year sees a very significant broadening of scope of the Selection, with a 38% of the schools being selected for the first time and one country – Egypt – which has never previously been selected. Besides, more than half of the sixteen selected films (9) have been directed by women.

The three Cinéfondation Prizes will be awarded at a ceremony prior to the screening of the winning films on Thursday 22nd May in the Buñuel Theatre

Home Sweet Home, Pierre Clenet, Alejandro Diaz, Romain Mazevet and Stéphane Paccolat, France, 10', Supinfocom Arles
Last Trip Home, Han Fengyu, Singapore, 25', Ngee Ann Polytechnic
*Lievito Madre (Sourdough), Fulvio Risuleo, Italy, 17', Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia - (tie) THIRD PRIZE
Les Oiseaux-Tonnerre (Thunderbirds), Léa Mysius, France, 22', La Fémis
Leto Bez Meseca (Moonless Summer), Stefan Ivančić, Serbia, 31', Faculty of Dramatic Arts
Niagara, Chie Hayakawa, Japan, ENBU Seminar
Our Blood, Max Chan, USA, 25', Hampshire College
*Oh Lucy!, Atsuko Hirayanagi, Singapore, NYU Tisch School of the Arts Asia - SECOND PRIZE
Provincia, György Mór Kárpáti, Hungary, 21', University of Theatre and Film Arts
*Skunk, Annie Silverstein, USA, 16', The University of Texas at Austin - FIRST PRIZE
Soom (Breath), Kwon Hyun-ju, South Korea 33', Chung-Ang University
Stone Cars, Reinaldo Marcus Green, USA, 14', NYU Tisch School of the Arts
The Aftermath of the Inauguration of the Public Toilet at Kilometer 375, Omar El Zohairy, Egypt, 18', High Cinema Institute Academy of Arts
*The Bigger Picture, Daisy Jacobs, UK, 7', National Film and Television School - (tie) THIRD PRIZE
The Visit, Inbar Horesh, Israel, 27', Minshar for Art, School and Center
Une Vie Radieuse (A Radiant Life), Meryll Hardt, France, Le Fresnoy

To check each Cinéfondation short film info, trailer, images, articles, etc. go here.

Short Films and Cinéfondation Jury
President: Abbas Kiarostami, director and screenwriter, Iran
Noémie Lvovsky, director, screenwriter and actress, France
Daniela Thomas, director and visual artist, Brazil
Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, director, Chad and France
Joachim Trier, director, Norway

About a week before the fest begins, organizers will publish info regarding each of the films and directors, still I looked around so know can start gathering info and this year will do it in Pinterest that accepts videos, articles, photos, etc. in one place.

Something very strange: this morning when doing the list there was one short in the Short Films competition that now that I'm looking for info noticed that "disappeared" from list in official site! Strange, but for a while will leave info here.

A Passo D'Uomo (Manhole), Giovanni Aloi, Italy, 14'

Alright the mystery is no more when organizers publish here the following:

"* The Italian film A PASSO D'UOMO by Giovanni ALOI was removed from the Short Films Competition because he has proved to break the regulation of this Selection."

So film is out of the selection.

Here's Something Actually Cool About STAR WARS: EPISODE VII

If you want a sign of just how much the landscape of blockbusters has changed in the last few years, today is a pretty damn good one: JJ Abrams posts actual video from the set of his new STAR WARS movie - including a glimpse of an actual physical old-school puppeteered alien!!! - and The Internet kinda sorta shrugged it off because it's currently much more interested in beating up Warner Bros for BATMAN VS SUPERMAN's godawful full title and writer/producer David Goyer's ignorant sexism re: She-Hulk (and just plain ignorance re: Martian Manhunter.)

Oh well, I really liked it - and there are few people more jaded about JJ Abrams than me. Check it out:

Day 8 at Cannes 2014

The festival is fading away as practically we get only one more day of competition as on Friday we will start to learn winners in parallel sections. Still in the main competition we have four more movies by four great directors that unfortunately were scheduled to towards the end of the fest, when most of the media are no longer in Cannes. Next year maybe organizers will schedule in the final days whatever American films they have and then we will see that media stays until the last day. Sigh.

The Competition

The Search by Michel Hazanavicius

A few days ago I had a discussion about this film as the friends I was with could not understand that a remake was in competition and on top, the remake changed almost everything in story. So the question was: why keep the name? Why he didn't changed the name? We had no answers then and surely will not have answers today, but the first reactions to film are of the not positive kind, which undoubtedly in my mind is a consequence of doing a remake, changing a lot of the story, keeping the name and a not-good director.

What was surprising and puzzling is the Cannes absence of the most visible person related to the film. No, Annette Bening is not in Cannes, surprising isn't? Another question that will remain unanswered. Or maybe, she's not there as she doesn't have a significant role in the movie. We will not know until we see film.

Last, have to remind you all that the original movie by Fred Zinneman had in the lead none other than Montgomery Clift playing the American soldier. This character has been replaced by an NGO worker played by Bérénice Bejo. This is an inconceivable situation as Clift is an American cinema icon of an era when American films were extraordinary and no matter what is changed, in the back of our minds many will be thinking about Monty when we see this film.

Bérénice Bejo is a good actress and my confirmation to the statement came when I saw Asghar Farhadi's The Past, as I did not enjoy much her performance in The Artist and well, I didn't liked much the Hazanavicius film. So was wondering if her performance could save the movie but if we believe reactions to the film, then maybe she was not able to save film. Why is this film in Cannes? A big question mark.

Reactions to film
Michel Hazanavicius has relocated Fred Zinnerman's 1948 Oscar-winner about a westerner who helps a lost child to the Chechen war. You can't fault the intention, you can't help but query the corny execution. (Peter Bradshaw-The Guardian)
Bening’s character, meanwhile, is like The Search itself – committed and serious but working too hard on too many fronts to be properly effective. (Fionnuala Halligan-Screen Daily)
"What is this piece of shit?” (Guy Lodge-Hitfix)
Oscar winner Michel Hazanavicius makes a 180-degree shift from the effervescent charms of 'The Artist' with this grueling, lumbering and didactic war picture. (Justin Chang-Variety)
Forcément très attendu, le nouveau film de Michel Hazanavicius, The Search, laisse un léger goût d’inachevé. (Premiere)
“The Search”, de Michel Hazanavicius, film de guerre bien trop candide (Frédéric Strauss-Telerama)
Le film est une vraie déception malgré des tours de force indéniables (filmosphere)

Adieu Au Langage (Goodye to Language) by Jean-Luc Godard

Already said everything I think about Godard in the Cannes Check about French directors so there is no surprise when I say that no matter what happens in the festival with his latest film, I will not be running to watch the film. Still it is remarkable that after expressing his reservations about the arrival of digital technology Godard embraces cutting-edge technology and does his film in 3D.

From film's promotional material I got the impression that film will have a non-linear narrative that will feel like experimental cinema while having great visual imagery that will not be enough to gather my attention to sustain the whole experience. Reactions from known-to-me critics -who are not afraid to dislike Godard- tend to be on the not-positive side.

Reactions to film
The usual erudite and exuberant Godard video collage with added experimental 3D playfulness. Is often an assault on the senses but I just love what's done with the 3D format, some of it is incredible (FilmLand Empire)
Torrent d'applaudissements après la projection d'Adieu au langage de Godard, beau, drôle et abscons. (Culturebox)
Honestly, stumped. It's a dog's life? Amazing cross-eyed coups; saturation, sound entice. Insufficient (ace) mutt action. (Tim Robey)
ADIEU AU LANGAGE (Godard): Godard frees the cinema-image from its dictatorial frame. Fin du cinéma, etc. Also, poop jokes. (Zach Lewis)
Jean-Luc Godard's ADIEU AU LANGAGE: We're all the dog. Or we aren't. The moment when Godard moves one of the 3D cameras, is truly inventive. (Karsten Meinich)
J'ai vu Adieu au langage. Le chien est parfait. (Chloe Beaumont)
Jean-Luc Godard's Farewell To Language is chaotic, eccentric, exasperating and mad. (Peter Bradshaw-The Guardian)

Out of Competition

L'Homme Qu'on aimaint Trop (In the Name of My Daughter) by André Téchiné

Today's greatest surprise was the release of the film's trailer and from that material I can assure you that Téchiné is alive and well! Yes, there are signs all over the trailer of his peculiar filmmaking style that includes the look and visual texture of his films. Great!!!

Catherine Deneuve and Guillaume Canet look in trailer in top form but is Adèle Haenel who called my attention perhaps because she has been all over the place lately. From winning a Lumiere for Most Promising Young Actress to winning a Cesar for supporting role and her much publicized "coming out" in her award acceptance speech. But particularly this year she is Cannes first at the Quinzaine with Les Combattants and now in the Official Selection in a film by Téchiné and sharing the screen with none other than Catherine Deneuve. Impressive for a young actress that called my attention in 2007 when she was one of the leads in Céline Sciamma's Naissance des pieuvres.

Going back to film -another film based on real people-, this crime-drama story also has Téchiné signature as basically is a story of passion and rivalry, money that is siphoned off and maneuvers by the Mafia; all the ingredients are there to concoct a drama under the sun of the Côte d’Azur. What is unusual is that he decided to include the trial in the film, so we have to see film to find out if was a good or not-so-good idea.

Suggest to watch videos as all speak French, so no voice-overs with annoying translations. Interview is truly funny just to see how awkward Adèle Haenel is in this type of situations and how the group seems to NOT get along well together, which also transpires in the photocall! (lol!) Not often you see cast behaving what seems to be truthfully.

Reactions to film
Malgré Deneuve et Adèle Haenel, la narration du Techiné sur l'affaire Agnelet fait un peu trop penser à "Faites entrer l'accusé" (Time Out Paris) (a France 2 TV Show)
Hoy vi igual L'homme qu'on aimait trop, de André Téchiné, con Catherine Deneuve. Con momentos rescatables, pero no da para mucho. (Arturo Perez Navarro)
La scène du sourire d'Adèle Haenel dans le dernier Téchiné montre que l'actrice n'a pas fini de nous révéler l'ampleur de son talent. (Yann R.)
Vu L'Homme qu'on aimait trop #Techiné Qu'est ce qui le distingue d'un bon tvfilm France3? On va dire de bons acteurs et belle mise en scène. (CinephileParis)

Special Screenings

Of Men and War by Laurent Bécue-Renard

The French film director presents a documentary about young war veterans who fought in Afghanistan and Iraq, who, once home, struggle to live the life that they left behind for a while. The crew was allowed to film the therapy of twelve of these American soldiers.

Reactions to film
An illuminating portrait of psychologically damaged Iraq War veterans that works as both a compelling network narrative and a vital historical document. (Jordan Mintzer-THR)

Maïdan by Sergeï Loznitsa

Feature films by Loxnitsa absolutely blow my mind from all points-of-view, the story, the filmmaking slow-ish style, actors' performances, and most of all, his imagery with many compositions that are true visual poetry. He has been twice in competition in Cannes with My Joy in 2010 and In the Fog in 2012.

Even when Loznitsa started doing docs and he returns to what some say is "his favorite genre", I have no idea how this documentary could be/look/feel as chronicles the protest that happened just last December 2013 in Maïdan, a square in Kiev, Ukraine. But I am curious and if I'm able to see film, will be Loznitsa's first doc that I see. Nevertheless the few promotional material I have seen suggest doc has impressive visual images.

Reactions to film
Loznitsa's MAIDAN is a staggering, you-are-there immersion into the epicenter of the Ukrainian Revolution. One of the best of #cannes. (Scott Foundas)
This stunning, epic-scaled film harkens back to the heroic, journalistic roots of documentary-making and yet feels ineffably modern and formally daring. (Leslie Felperin-THR)

Un Certain Regard

Fantasia by Wang Chao

Film looks at the difficulty of living in China today plus the human suffering of facing death and the ability to psychologically overcome a tragedy. Not really familiar with director's work so need reactions to see if he is the level of other sixth generation directors like, for example, jury member, Jia Zhang-ke.

Based in mostly English-language reactions seems that perhaps this is not the film to start learning about this director. The only French-language reaction says the opposite, so probably will give movie a try.

Reactions to film
Realist auteur doesn't break new grounds in social commentary or aesthetics in his latest look at the Chinese working-class. (Clarence Tsui-THR)
#Fantasia de Wang Chao peinture subtile et tendre d'une famille chinoise face à la maladie du père. Magnifique. (Audrey Fournier)
Fantasia: Wang Chao y el monstruo urbano chino. Diluye sus dotes y buenas intenciones con un ritmo y una fatalidad cansinos. (Victor Esquirol)
FANTASIA: Skinny, lurking son keeps family drama alive but otherwise Wang Chao's latest is tired, emotionally-frigid territory. (Brian Hu)

Snow in Paradise by Andrew Hulme

Got the impression that this film has the kind of violence I do not enjoy as was inspired by a true story about a petty delinquent named Martin Askew, who grew up in the East End of London in the milieu of organized crime.

Some compare film to the cinema of Jacques Audiard, which have violence but whatever is shown is not gratuitous as is integral part of the narrative, so perhaps this film also plays with similar style. Will give movie a try.

Reactions to film
SNOW IN PARADISE est un grand échiquier où se déplacent les pions de l’argent, qui se phagocytent et se dévorent jusqu’à ce que la spiritualité rentre en jeu et mettre un terme à ce jeu de pouvoir. (Cinemateaser)
#SnowInParadise Pour un premier film, au lieu d'innover, le réal se contente de suivre les règles. Ca tourne un peu en rond là dedans. (Le 7ème avis)

Cinéfondation

Short Films Program 1
Skunk by Annie Silverstein
Provincia by Gvorgy mor karpati
Lievito Madre (Sourdough) by Fulvio risuleo
Soom (Breath) by Kwon Hyun-ju

Short Films Program 2
Les Oiseaux-tonnerre (Thunderbirds) by Lea Mysius
Oh Lucy! by Atsuko Hirayangi
The Bigger Picture by Daisy Jacobs
Leto Bez Meseca (Moonless Summer) by Stefan Ivancic

Cannes Classics

Regards sur une Révolution: Comment Yukong Déplaça les Montagnes by Marceline Loridan and Joris Ivens

This Wednesday, the Cannes Classics selection will look back at a historic transformation: that of China in the 1960s and 1970s, when Mao Zedong plunged the country into an unprecedented cultural revolution in order to strengthen his grip on teh nation. This major historical event is related in Regards sur une Révolution, a film consisting of four shorts directed at the time by one of the leading couples of French documentary-making: Marceline Loridan and Joris Ivens.
The Centre National de Cinématographie (CNC) used this feature-length film, which is over twelve hours in its original format, to create Regards sur une Révolution. It selected four of the twelve films that make up the piece (Les Artisans, Une Histoire de Ballons, awarded the César for best short film in 1977, Professeur Tsien and Répétitions à l’Opéra de Pékin) and restored them.

Paris, Texas by Wim Wenders
A cinema classic that I enjoyed a long time ago and wouldn't mind revisiting. Or maybe not. Surely my memories of this film are better than the ones I could create if I see this film today. Sigh. Still if you have not seen it then strongly suggest you watch this Palme d'Or winner.

Masterclass by Sophia Loren

Not often Cannes has an actress masterclass (last was in 2006), much less one given by Sophia Loren. In this unique opportunity the actress will look back at her career, her links with the Festival de Cannes and I assume she has to speak about her directors.

Cinéma de la Plage
La Folie des Garndeurs by Gérard Oury
This comedy has Yves Montand in a lead role but also here an actor I can't stand (sorry), Louis de Funes (the other is Fernandel!); even when I was a kid couldn't watch French comedies and this film was not the exception. Revisit or watch for the first time only if you enjoy French comedies.

Quinzaine des Réalisateurs

P'tit Quinquin by Bruno Dumont

A TV miniseries with characters played by children in "an improbable, screwball and slapstick police procedural focusing on bizarre crimes on the outskirts of a small Channel Town in the Boulonnais that has fallen prey to evil, and to an band of young scoundrels led by Li'l Quinquin and his beloved Eve." Interesting idea but I wonder if I will like it, probably not.

Reactions to film
Qui l’eût cru? Avec sa série P’tit Quinquin, réalisée pour ARTE et présentée à la Quinzaine des réalisateurs, Bruno Dumont signe la comédie la plus drôle du festival. (Quentin Grosset-Trois Couleurs)

Kaguya-Hime No Monogatari (The Tale of The Princess Kaguya) by Isao Takahata

As it is in film's promotional material "The Tale of The Princess Kaguya is the newest animation film from Studio Ghibli, and the strikingly beautiful culmination of decades of contemplation by its director, Studio Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata." and yes, animation looks/feels awesomely beautiful.

Check synopsis: Found inside a shining stalk of bamboo, a tiny girl grows into an exquisite young lady raised by an old bamboo cutter and his wife. From the countryside to the grand capital city, even unseen she enthralls all who encounter her, including five noble suitors. Ultimately she must face her fate, punishment for her crime.

Reactions to film
Isao Takahata revient avec Le sublime conte de la Princesse Kaguya (Premiere)
Isao Takahata's retelling of the oldest recorded Japanese narrative is a visionary tour de force. (Maggie Lee-Variety)

La Semaine de la Critique

ПЛЕМЯ Plemya (The Tribe) by Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy

The last film in competition is very puzzling and strange movie as film has no subtitles or voice-over, characters speak in sign language and you hear background noises. That's it, nothing more. I always have spoken and strongly believe in the power of images with silence and wonder if this film will fit what I have in my head or not.

Maybe perhaps because the nature of the story I feel not attracted to movie but I know that I have to see this not really silent film that surely with non-actors face/body/hands expressions will tell the story that words could not tell. Check the synopsis
Deaf mute Sergey enters a specialized boarding school for deaf-and-dumb. In this new place, he needs to find his way through the hierarchy of the school's network dealing with crime and prostitution, The Tribe. By taking part of several robberies, he gets propelled higher into the organization. Then he meets one of the Chief's concubines Anna, and unwillingly breaks all the unwritten rules of the tribe.

Reactions to film
The Tribe, un choc de cinéma violent et renversant à la @semainecannes: film noir en langage des signes sans sous- titre. Future Caméra d'Or? (Thierry Chèze)
The #Tribe, le film choc de la @semainecannes "fière de représenter la communauté sourde" dit l'actrice: un diamant brut sans parole. (Stephane Leblanc)
“The Tribe”, de Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy, le pari de la violence en silence. (Pierre Murat-Telerama)
The Tribe : caméra d'or en vue. (Abus de ciné)

Short Film Collection Canal + (check info for each short here)

To celebrate its 30th birthday, Canal + gives the green light to 5 French novelists to express their views on today’s world. They asked them to direct a fiction film. These are the short films.

Anti-Trente by Oxmo Puccino
La Contribution by Chloe Delaume
Par Acquis de Confiance by Maxime Chattam
Le plus petit appartement de Paris by Héléna Villovitch
Rosa Mystica by Eva Ionesco and Simon Liberati

L'ACID

Mercuriales by Virgil Vernier

Vernier comes from a background in documentary filmmaking and his first fiction feature film has an unique vision that combines medieval mythology, female characters, a fascination for the Parisian suburbs and a very unique sense of how to capture real life and real people on film. I'm really glad that was able to find info (in TorinoFilmLab) about film even when does not have distribution as what I was able to read absolutely called my attention and made wish seeing movie. Great! Unfortunately watched a clip and nope, I do not like the look plus based on clip, seem it's too talkie for my taste. Sigh. Check synopsis.
Two high-rise buildings stand out against the skyline of the Parisian suburbs. They are LES MERCURIALES. Lisa, Joane and Tony work there, in the concealed parts of these buildings. They are twenty years old and still searching for their paths in life.

Reactions to film
Mercuriales est une œuvre ouverte, dialectique, une tapisserie complexe qui ne place pas le film à mi-chemin du naturalisme et de la stylisation d'esthète mais ailleurs, au-delà, dans un espace où l'impératif de montrer ne contredit pas celui de penser. (Jean François Rauger-Le Monde)

News
-In the past few days press headlines talk about Cannes having many movies about women, which is true; but I do not understand why the have to add: even if female filmmakers are rare.  Wish the later will be said in a context of good/great cinema, not just because of gender.
-I'm having a blast reading the tweets after the press screening of Xavier Dolan's Mommy and don't mind learning too much about film, as makes me happy that media likes his movie! Happy.

Not-so-serious News
-As festival fades there are not many parties but tomorrow is perhaps the most famous event in Cannes, the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS event. The Foundation for AIDS Research benefit at the Hotel du Cap-Eden Roc. The evening will flag off with a Champagne reception and dinner, followed by a live auction, a fashion show and performances by Robin Thicke and Lana del Ray, closing with a glamorous after-party. This year Aishwarya and Abhishek Bachachan will chair the event as well as many other known business, fashion and cinema personalities.  If you visit their official site you will read: Thank you for your interest in supporting and attending Cinema Against AIDS 21. The event is entirely SOLD OUT. So maybe next year you get your tickets earlier.

Photos of the Day

Sophia Loren watching Sophia Loren

By popular demand, here is Aish

Big Picture: GO GO GODZILLA

The Escapist : The Big Picture : Go Go Godzilla - Hoping for Better Blockbusters

Day 7 at Cannes 2014

Today is an "UP" day in the roller-coaster as we have films by European and Asian master filmmakers, the Best of the Best from those regions. Fantastic day.

The Competition

Deux Jours, Une Nuit (Two Days and One Night) by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne

What can I say about the two-time Palme d'Or winners director-duo plus one of the most important actresses in contemporary world cinema working together? Not much. Just that it is must be seen for me and hopefully will be ASAP. But will try to add something more.

Another Dardenne social drama this time about the economic crisis that surely will be intense with extraordinary performances by Dardenne regular, Fabrizio Rongione and Marion Cotillard. Have to share that I am so grateful that Marion Cotillard always returns to Europe to do GREAT movies as her goings into Hollywood cinema have not been that good, but know that she must be making lots of money (lol!). The last time was in great Jacques Audiard's Rust and Bone and now for the first time ever in a Dardenne brothers film that has to be like another great step in her career, as she said: "tourner avec eux revenait à accéder à l’inaccessible".

This is a film I do not wish to know much about anything/everything related to the movie as do not want to spoil the experience when watching film, so will not see videos with interview or press conference nor will read beyond headlines; but will share some reactions with you all. No need to say that film is must be seen for me no matter what critics/viewers say.

As someone asks: Les frères Dardenne peuvent-ils recevoir une troisième Palme d'Or avec ce film? Verdict: Oui.

My crystal ball is silent as my favorite film in festival is another BUT I wouldn't mind at all if the Dardenne Brothers get their third Palme d'Or as they are extraordinary and IF they do they will be #1 (and the only ones) in the top echelon of Cannes Palme d'Or winners.  What my crystal ball says is that Marion should win and maybe will win as this was the exact vehicle to showcase how good her performances are.

Reactions to film
Two Days, One Night,' Starring Marion Cotillard, Shows the Dardenne Brothers' Best Qualities (Eric Kohn-Indiewire)
Specialists in unvarnished intimacy, the Dardenne brothers add another clear-eyed contemplation of stark social reality to their impressive output. (David Rooney-THR)
Deux jours, une nuit : une fable digne et épurée. (Laure Croiset-Toutlecine)
Deux jours, Une nuit, porté par l’interprétation retenue de Marion Cotillard, est une promesse de renouvellement. (Christophe Naronne-Premiere)
Les frères Dardenne à leur meilleur dans une oeuvre imparable et sacrificielle sur la dignité humaine, portée par une Marion Cotillard au sommet de son art. Une troisième Palme d'or en vue? (Thierry Cheze-L'Express)
Overwhelmingly positive reviews for #Cannes2014 Dardenne bros' TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT (indiwire summary)

Futatsume No Mado (Still the Water) by Naomi Kawase

If something is truth is that Kawase "explores its mystique for mankind" and she does it with such delicate beauty that hurts. The Mourning Forest is still for me her awesome masterpiece but I am looking forward to see her latest as know will have breathtaking visuals with a human story that know will evolve in simple, very simple ways.

Then you have her saying everywhere that this film is her masterpiece, like a milestone in her cinematic filmography; which obviously critics and cinephiles do not appreciate and yes, they reject that type of statements from directors. Obviously Kawase's comment will not help her to get "good" reviews, so I will take reactions with a grain of salt.

Not a surprise to notice that reactions are mixed, with positive reactions relating more to awesome visuals and the less positive to the story. If I can recall well, these are the same reactions to her extraordinary The Mourning Forest that someone even dare to say that there was no story in the second half of film; scenes that are the most beautiful poetic narrative that I have seen in many films by master-directors. I do not know if here she uses visual elements to conduct her narrative but if she does it makes sense why many do not approve the "story" in this film.

Regardless what critics/viewers say about film, this is must be seen for me and hope that she will delight me again with magnificent visual poetry that could -or not- conduct the narrative.

Could she win the Palme d'Or? I hope she does BUT not because her gender, the jury gender composition or all the fuzz that nowadays is given to female directors, she should win because her film is superior to films by -let's say- Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Dardenne Brothers and one more director that has not shown his film yet.

Reactions to film
Naomi Kawase’s 'Still The Water' Is A Spectacle For The Senses (Nikola Grozdanovic-The Playlist-Indiwire)
La palme d'or pour Still the Water! (Le Crapuleux)
Naomi Kawase's Still the Water is a stagnant pond of ideas. (Guy Lodge-Hitfix)
Japanese director Naomi Kawase's competition entry is an impressively poised – and implacably self-conscious – domestic drama with Zen water features (Peter Bradshaw-The Guardian)
The Japanese helmer's trademark visual splendor is weighed down by a chunky, underdeveloped script. (Clarence Tsui-THR)
STILL THE WATER (Kawase): Idk, a Kawase film: self-serious, melancholy, beautiful, fleeting, and often numbing. (Jordan Cronk)
Despite her high estimate of herself, I would be surprised if Naomi Kawase's overcooked STILL THE WATER won the Palme d'or (Nick James)
"Still the water" de Naomi Kawase: émouvant mais barbant (Christophe Carriere-L'Express)

Out of Competition

Gui Lai (Coming Home) by Zhang Yimou

There has been eight long years since Zhang Yimou did a film with awesome Gong Li and some of you will recall fabulous Curse of the Golden Flower. Their trajectory together is one the most extraordinary collaboration in world cinema as they did together eleven incredibly good movies like Red Shorghum, Ju Dou, Raise the Red Lantern, To Live, The Story of Qiu Ju, Shanghai Triad and Code Name: Cugar. You have no idea how much I'm dying to see this movie as have not seen Gong Li in a great role since she went to Hollywood to do mediocre movies and came back to China to do silly films; so, now in the twelfth collaboration between a great director and a great actress the result has to be worth-watching.

Movie does not seem the majestic, colorful typical Zhang Yimou production as from film stills and trailer, film seems will be visually somber as will probably complement the storytelling about the psychological toll of the Chinese Cultural Revolution. But his awesome cinematic style can be seen all over the promotional material.

This is film that I will watch no matter what critics and viewers say but for your reading will include some of their reactions. Seems reactions are mixed but wonder if fantastic Under the Hawthorn Tree, another romantic Zhang Yimou film, could have generated similar reactions. Sigh.

Reactions to film
Powerful, profound and emotional (Steven Spielberg)
Sweet but suspect cultural revolution romance (Xan Brooks-The Guardian)
COMING HOME: Zhang Yimou's 50 FIRST DATES, movingly done. And now I want dumplings. (Justin Chang-Variety)
A meandering and frequently tepid love story that also wants to be an important commentary but is too weightless to be effective as either. (Elizabeth Kerr-THR)
Great to see Zhang Yimou and Gong Li working together again. Loved Coming Home. Sweet, beautifully told story of enduring love. (Ann Lee)
If you have a heart like me you'll be moved to tears by Zhang Yimou's Coming Home. But I noticed a few critics with no heart who walked out. (Alex Billington-Firstshowing)
GUI LAI: intimate but disappointing period drama from Zhang Yimou. Gong Li shines through at least (FilmLand Empire)
Zhang Yimou retorna ao drama intimidara no tocante Coming Home. Se estivesse em competição, brigaria pelos prêmios principais. (AdoroCinema)

Special Screenings

Les Gens du Monde by Yves Jeuland
In 2012, Yves Jeuland trained his camera on the political section of the French newspaper Le Monde. For three months, the documentary filmmaker set out to capture the breathless work of the journalists covering the presidential election campaign. Les Gens du Monde tells the story of his extraordinary journey into the heart of this legendary French news machine. I read Le Monde daily but watching a doc about the newspaper, hmm, not sure.

Geronimo by Tony Gatlif

Great Céline Sallette in a contemporary sort of Romeo and Juliet set against the backdrop of a war between two gangs from different cultures. I am sold but know will not be easy-to-watch for the raw realism and violence.

As it is said in a tweet, "film is like Flamenco meets West Side Story in high-energy face-off between Spanish and Turkish communities in a French housing project" which I think describes better what this film must be about.

Reactions to film
Geronimo, de Tony Gatlif: ça fait quoi, pour des acteurs, de se découvrir à l'écran? (Charlotte Pudlowski-Slate France)
Sharply drawn characters full of intensity, passion and energy burn out in a story without an ending. (Deborah Young-THR)

Un Certain Regard

Titli by Kanu Behl

I do enjoy films from India that are not musicals and The Lunchbox is the best and latest example of great Indian cinema. Will this film be engaging and go beyond the usual street violence of the business of armed robbery? Do not know and hope reactions to film will tell us something.

Reactions to film
#Titli is brutal, complex, layered, gripping. Terrific performances. Congratulations Kanu. (Anupama Chopra)
Un nouveau représentant de la jeune génération du cinéma indien indépendant. Le réalisateur livre un film sombre et personnel sur la famille (Trois Couleurs)
Titli: India's Cannes selection is another story about a very violent family. Intense, real and a bit heartbreaking, but not without hope. (Vera Wessel)

Lost River by Ryan Gosling

I am as curious as many with Gosling transition to behind the camera. My imagination tells me that his work has to have the visual influence of Nicolas Winding Refn with whom he has done similar characters in films full of violence but with a particular filmmaking style. The few stills and the recent released teaser tell me that maybe I am right, especially when it comes to the use of light and color. But until I see film will not know how Gosling chose to start his directorial career and a particular style -if there is one.

Reactions to film are mixed, but tell me about something I couldn't imagine from the promotional material: David Lynch! The film has become a lot more interesting for me. Somehow reactions in other language than English tend to be more favorable, which is great thermometer for me.

Reactions to film
Ryan Gosling's new film is a Lynchian fever-dream. Bizarre and gorgeous. An incredible debut film! (AmericanCinemaEditor)
Cannes so far lacks a film-maudit crapocalypse. LOST RIVER just supplied it. All Gosling's pet Lynch films, filtered through Refnvision. (Tim Robey)
Gosling's LOST RIVER a first-rate folie de grandeur. Echoes of Argento, Korine, Lynch, Malick in a tedious allegory of Detroit as ghost town. (Scott Foundas)
Ryan Gosling's directorial debut LOST RIVER is like the residue of a collision between GUMMO & TWIN PEAKS. No, really. (Eric Kohn)
Lost River Ryan Gosling, très perturbant, reprend les codes de Drive. Du sang, du néon, de la veste qu'on voudra porter à l'automne. (Elodie Petit)
Livre d'images goth, film-carrousel, cabaret-rock, morale Disney, mix Korine-Gaspar Noé style : le film de Ryan Gosling est cool (Romain Blondeau)
'Lost River'. Ryan Gosling va a dividir mucho. La 'Holy Motors' de #Cannes2014. Pesadilla bestial. Un debut impresionante. Plas, plas. (Emilio Doménech)

The Salt of the Earth by Wim Wenders and Juliano Ribeiro Salgado
Juliano Ribeiro Salgado, the son of the great Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado, presents The Salt of the Earth, a portrait of his father, in collaboration with Wim Wenders and compiled as a result of his travels. Very nice photography in this documentary.

Cannes Classics
Matrimonio All'Italiana (Marriage Italian Style) by Vittorio de Sica
Today is the day that Sophia Loren arrives in Cannes as tomorrow is her masterclass, but the screening of one of the Italian classic romcom with two of the most iconic Italian actors, Marcello Mastroianni and Sophia Loren in a film considered as a parody of the neorealist ideals of Italian cinema is a tremendous opportunity for the young of age to learn and the young of heart to revisit. Before the screening the short film, Voce Umana by Edoardo Ponti starring Sophia Loren and directed by her son.

Cinéma de la Plage
The Warriors by Walter Hill
Have not seen film and not that familiar with director, could be a chance to learn more about him but the few films I have seen by him are have too much gratuitous violence, so not interested. Sigh.

Quinzaine des Réalisateurs

Queen and Country by John Boorman

From promotional material film looks and feels like classic period drama from British film industry, perhaps a bit more with TV style than with cinema style. Check the synopsis.
1952. Bill Rohan is 18 and wanders, dreamy and happy, along the riverside where his family have a house. His daydreaming is rudely interrupted by the Korean war, the draft, and the harsh reality of the military camp where he trains. There, he meets Percy, who becomes his firm friend. After their induction, numerous conscripts are sent to Korea. Bill and Percy are lucky enough to find themselves as instructors in a training camp. They plot against an unbearable sergeant. They also make some excursions into the outside world. During one of them, Bill falls in love with a girl who is unattainable.

Reactions to film
John Boorman's sequel to his masterful 'Hope and Glory' doesn't equal its predecessor, but still offers a vivid snapshot of Army and family life in post-War England. (Scott Foundas-Variety)
John Boorman's semi-autobiographical follow-up to his wartime drama Hope and Glory is an entertaining, if lightweight, reminiscence of the ups and downs of National Service (Peter Bradshaw-The Guardian)

Whiplash by Damien Chazelle

Film was screened at Sundance were won the US Grand Jury Prize and American critics have reviews more from Sundance than from Cannes. This is the kind of movie that I know eventually will see in premium cable TV, so there is no rush to watch it. Check the synopsis.
Andrew, a promising 19-year-old drummer at a cutthroat Manhattan music conservatory, has little interest in being just a musician. Haunted by his father’s failed writing career and plagued with the fear that mediocrity just might be genetic, Andrew dreams of greatness. Determined not to follow in his father’s footsteps, he practices daily until his hands literally bleed. The pressure of success ratchets into high gear when he is picked to join the school band led by the infamous Terence Fletcher, a brutally savage music instructor who will stop at nothing to realize a student’s potential. Under Fletcher’s ruthless direction, Andrew begins to pursue perfection at any cost—even his humanity.

Reactions to film
Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons go toe-to-toe in a potent drama about an ambitious young drummer and his abusive teacher. (Todd McCarthy-THR)
Loved Whiplash. Riveting from start to drumtastic end. JK Simmons best non-homicidal psycho since R Lee Ermey in Full Metal Jacket. (Matt Mueller)

Tu dors Nicole by Stéphane Lafleur

Film seems could be interesting as has an intriguing story. Check the synopsis.
Making the most of the family home while her parents are away, Nicole, 22 years old, is enjoying a peaceful summer with her best friend Véronique. When Nicole’s older brother shows up with his band to record an album, the girls’ friendship is put to the test. Their vacation takes an unexpected turn, punctuated by a heatwave, Nicole’s growing insomnia and the persistent courtship of a 10-year-old boy. Tu dors Nicole takes a humorous look at the beginning of adulthood and all its possibilities.

Thanks to recollecting reactions to film, got very interested in film; here is a key element that I picked-up: "Petite sœur québécoise de la Frances Ha"; alright now I know what film is about plus the white&black look absolutely calls my attention.

Reactions to film
Entre Wes Anderson, Frances Ha et Ghost World, jolie vignette-comédie québéquoise en N&B, inventive et down-tempo (Eric Vernay)
Bel accueil chaleureux pour Tu Dors Nicole de Stéphane Lafleur à la Quinzaine des réalisateurs. Un beau film fin, drôle, nostalgique. (Marc Cassivi)
An affecting, funny, eccentric and gorgeously shot coming-of-age film about a rudderless 22-year-old. (Boyd van Hoeij-THR)

La Semaine de la Critique

Hope by Boris Lojkine

Another film about the trip from Africa to Europe that surely will not be easy to watch and even if this time is in land, movie sees to me as Moussa Touré's La Pirogue that is set in a brave sea, here is the brave Sahara desert. Check the synopsis.
Deep in the Sahara desert, as they try to get to Europe, Léonard, a young man from Cameroon, rescues Hope, a Nigerian woman. In a fiercely hostile world where safety requires staying with one's own people, these two try to find their way together, and to love each other.

Reactions to film
Tragedy of Boris Lojkine's fabulously-lensed migration drama #HOPE is not how Africans are treated but how they treat each other. (Filmuforia)
Cinéma vérité pour Boris Lojkine et émouvant récit du voyage impitoyable en Afrique du Nord d'une Nigériane et d'un Camerounais rêvant d'Europe (Fabien Lemercier-Cineurope)

L'ACID
La fille et le fleuve by Aurélia Georges

Film has no distribution and info is hard to find but here is the synopsis.
Nouk and Samuel are in love, young, over-possessive and clumsy. One day Nouk abruptly loses Samuel. He ends up in limbo. Will Nouk’s crazy hope tear him away from the afterlife?

Reactions to film
La Fille et le fleuve fait le choix de la sensibilité et de la poésie. Rendant compte de sentiments dont il n’interroge jamais l’origine, ce deuxième long-métrage échappe à la pesanteur guindée et démonstrative qui le guette parfois par l’audace de son incarnation fantastique. (Mariane Fernandez-Critikat)

News

-Ken Loach is in Cannes as saw him in the Two Days, One Night red carpet!

Not-so-serious News
-Seems Aish went back to be like before she had her baby; now we need to see her in movies!
-Dardenne brothers film red carpet was full of European celebrities, which is truly refreshing after seeing too many American celebrities in Cannes (lol!).
-Tonight De Grisogono dinner party, in collaboration with Gyunel at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc

Photos of the Day

Ryan Gosling and Christina Hendricks

Alessandra Ambrosio and Adriana Lima - Last night at Chopard party

Day 6 at Cannes 2014

I thought it was only me having the impression that this year the festival had a weak in-competition selection but no, it is not only me who is "concern" with the quality of the films. Fest has been like a roller-coaster, one day is great with mood going up, next is not good with mood going down and you can feel everything from the brief writings of Twitter to the headlines of film reviews.

Of course there are some exceptions and according to me up-to-today, with four days to go, the only exceptions are Nuri Bilge Ceylan's film and perhaps the only Italian film in competition, both films fit what used to be the high festival standards. Still hope that there are a couple of more films with those standards.

Then some headlines cry that Cannes needs "new blood". The main competition is NOT for "new blood", the sidebar and parallel sections ARE for new blood and this year they have new and very interesting blood. In the main competition we used to get the BEST of the BEST cinema in the world and usually didn't came from "new blood" BUT there are a few exceptions in the past. Cannes has been, is and hope will always be a directors' festival, a festival where directors are celebrated and honored for their complex work while doing a film. Now seems that perhaps because wanting more world media coverage, the fest has become cosmetic/plastic and the movies with more noise are the ones that have "celebrities" acting. The risk that Cannes becomes an actors' festival is real and I just hope no one, no organizer body, will select a film just because the actors will help to attract attention to the festival.

I have spoken. Sigh.

The Competition

Foxcatcher by Bennett Miller

Seems Miller is becoming the "sport-story storyteller" by excellence as his second sport film, after great Moneyball, is getting quite positive reviews from English-language reviewers, not so from non-English Cannes-viewers that tend to find film "boring". Above what critics think, I have to see this film just to watch more of Steve Carell as trailer gave me the creeps but made me wish to see more of what surely will be award-winning performance. Still and above Carell's performance and before watching movie, I believe this film, another real-people biopic, does not belong in Cannes and much less in competition. Sigh.

As everything related to sports in America, I am positive that due to the nature of the story, this film will be more than just a "sports film", as will show us the lengths many are willing to go to succeed, which obviously speaks about American society values -which we also see in -for example- Wall Street movies. On this subject check what Miller says in the press conference:

"I knew that there were messages in it that went beyond the story itself, and had something to say about us and our country. It's not a political film, it's a film that tries to understand certain phenomena, such as decline".

Suggest you watch videos from this film as they are in English plus there is one from the press conference with Channing Tatum that made me laugh hard! The one about the ducks that were geese, LOL! The red carpet has many "celebrities" as you know by now, when is an American film all of them come out to have their 5 minutes of photos!  Then do not mind seeing Jessica Chastain and the girl from the TV show The Good Wife, both promoting The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby.

Reactions to film
Ennui méga massif devant Foxcatcher. Bon casting mais film tout mort, tout mou, tout vide. (Grégory Audermatte)
A CHAUD #Foxcatcher élegant, distant, inabouti, lent (ecran noir)
Énorme déception avec Foxcatcher. Narrativement (alors que c’était la force de Bennett Miller) le crash est total. (David Honnorat-Vodkaster)
FOXCATCHER, confirmation du brillant talent de Bennett Miller. Trois grands numéros d'acteurs. (Viggy Simmons)
Film de performance à la mise en scène indigente. Mais rien de plus qu'une irréversible lutte contre l'ennui. (Mehdi Omaïs)
Steve Carell, Mark Ruffalo and Channing Tatum give superb performances in Bennett Miller's powerfully disturbing true-crime saga. (Justin Chang-Variety)
Bennett Miller's drama about eccentric millionaire John DuPont's destructive relationship with a pair of Olympic wrestling champions gets you in a hold and won't let go. (Peter Bradshaw-The Guardian)
Carell sorprende en Cannes con dramático papel en "Foxcatcher" (Ecuavisa)
A superbly modulated study of a twisted mind with a career-changing performance by Steve Carell. (Todd McCarthy-THR)

Maps To The Stars by David Cronenberg

I have been so disappointed by Cronenberg late films that my hopes for him to go back to exciting great non-commercial cinema are almost zero. Seems that he finds inspiration by using male muses as in his fantastic violent movies Viggo Mortensen was his "muse", fortunately Viggo can act and by-the-way he has been getting better and better with time. Now Cronenberg "muse" is Robert Pattinson that again is in one of his movies BUT unfortunately Pattinson does not know how to act and maybe Cronenberg knows that as based ONLY in trailer, seems that Pattinson is only good to have sex in the same fashion with well-known actresses; first was Juliette Binoche in Cosmopolis and now is Julianne Moore in MTTS. Sigh.

Alright I got the above out of my system, so let's be more constructive. Storyline is nothing new but maybe the good cast (Julianne Moore, Mia Wasikowska, Olivia Williams, John Cusack, Carrie Fisher, etc) will deliver good performances that will disgust us profoundly as there is nothing pleasant in Hollywood, isn't? First reviews from English-speaking Cannes-viewers tend to be positive, even calling film the best from Cronenberg in 10 years. But still and on-purpose have to check headlines from non-English reviews.

As you imagine videos are easy to watch as most is in English without awful voice-over translation, suggest to watch outside videos (photocall and interview) to see how bad is the weather today in Cannes after the beautiful day yesterday.  The red carpet best photo surely will come from Cronenberg wearing his eyeglasses. Best moment: Viggo Mortensen greeting Cronenberg.

Reactions to film
Une satire sanglante de l'univers parallèle que constitue Hollywood. On y retrouve cette confusion entre le réel et le virtuel et cette fascination pour la monstruosité. (Isabelle Regnier/Jean-Francois Rauger-Le Monde)
David Cronenberg's Agriest Movie (Eric Kohn-Indiewire)
A Nightmare you don't want to wake from (Robbie Collin-The Telegraph)
David Cronenberg paints Hollywood as a black hole in this toxic showbiz satire. (Peter Debruge-Variety)
Curdled wit about Hollywood served with a scalpel. (Todd McCarthy-THR)
Hollywood dreams turn queasy in David Cronenberg's brilliant nightmare. (Peter Bradshaw-The Guardian)
He just may have created his most twisted, dark and brutally funny satire yet. (Matt Risley-Totalfilm)
On attendait de Cronenberg un peu mieux qu’un simple objet théorique où les acteurs sont réduits à l’état de pantins. On a surtout la désagréable sensation que cette désincarnation du récit sert plutôt à consolider sa stature d’auteur respecté, en agitant de manière névrotique deux ou trois marottes, un peu éculées. (Renan Cros-Cinema Teaser)
Sublimement malsaine dans le rôle d’une actrice qui se raccroche pathétiquement aux branches les plus pourries de la gloire, Julianne Moore peut prétendre, avec ce rôle radical, au prix d’interprétation féminine. (Alain Spira-Paris Match)
Voici une grande farce névrotique. Humour noir, fantômes et bain de sang mis en scène avec un savoir-faire brillant et une maîtrise irréprochable. Cronenberg dépeint Hollywood comme un monstre dévorant. (Fabienne Bradfer-Le Soire)

Special Screenings

Caricaturistes - Fantassins de la Democratie (Cartoonists - Foot Soldiers of Democracy) by Stéphanie Valloato (documentary)
Twelve graphic artists, twelve cartoonists. Perhaps will watch doc just to see what they show about the infamous late Venezuelan president.

El Ardor (Ardor) by Pablo Fendrik

I suppose this film is in the official selection because the celebrations of the western genre as this is another "western" but now set in the Amazon jungle; well, to be more precise "the tropical forest" of Argentina... which probably will be the Pampa! (lol) Love copying the headlines and then "think". Nope is not la Pampa is the tropical rainforest surrounding the Parana river in Argentina. So Fendrik calls his film: "Mesopotamian western" that is a suspense-filled story of vengeance. Whether is or is not a western, I know will not be rushing to see film because I do not enjoy the lead actor performances (with a few exceptions- NO was one).

Reactions to film
Despite the fiery passion implicit in its title, this rumble in the jungle lacks heat. (David Rooney-THR)
In its favour, El Arbor looks bewitching, the banks of the Parana River shrouded in mist and vegetation. (Fionnuala Halligan-Screendaily)

Un Certain Regard

Dohee-ya (A Girl at My Door) by July Yung

Yes, I am curious about this film both because story seems to be a strong female-centered drama as for whatever lesbian interest is present and makes film compete for the Queer Palm.

The thriller tells the story of Young-nam, a local chief police officer and a strong woman, yet one whose stability is gradually undermined as she protects a young girl from her violent stepfather and deals with a sensitive investigation that threatens her life.

Reactions to film
A resolutely left-field and refreshingly off-kilter drama. Is a deftly intriguing tale of alcoholism and abuse that starts off as a seemingly familiar domestic drama before spiralling off into something more unnerving and vaguely disturbing. (Mark Adams-Screen daily)
Bae Doona astonishing in THE GIRL AT MY DOOR, with a harsh melancholy to her like a wilting waterlily. (FilmLand Empire)
A middling and muted drama revolving what could have been a convergence of many forms of social injustice. (Clarence Tsui-THR)
Korean Cinema At Its Finest (Pierce Conran)

Xenia by Panos H. Koutras

Not sure what to think about this film from a director who has been described as the "Greek Almodovar" (???), hope film reactions give me a clue. Film is competing for the Queer Palm.

Reactions to film
Tout en portant un constat sévère sur la société grecque contemporaine. (Trois Coleurs)
A realistic and extremely charming fable about two brothers of Albanian heritage in today’s Greece (Fabien Lemercier-Cineurope)
Reality and camp are expertly juxtaposed in this touching if overlong story of two Patty Pravo-crazy teenage brothers. (Boyd van Hoeij-THR)

Bird People by Pascale Ferran

Film is must be seen for me for the right reasons, the director, the story, the cast, and because is mainly a French production. Have expectations (!) for this film as hope will be one of the few American-French movies that will work flawlessly, similar to the kind of French cinema I highly enjoy. Let see what reactions to film say. But if it means something -surely it does!- take a look WHO were at the first screening: Ozon, Lvovsky, Zlotowski, Laurent Cantet, Sissako.

Seems that maybe will be as English-language comments tend to tell what I am hoping for, even when their comments are not positive.  But I will obey the last reaction and according to my French cinema golden rule, will NOT read a thing about this film.

Reaction to film
Two lost souls flock together, sort of, in an ambitious French film that takes flight in some highly unusual ways. (Jordan Mintzer-THR)
This clinically observed two-hander reveals itself as an unlikely Cinderella story. (Peter Debruge-Variety)
Possibly the wackiest film yet: Pascale Ferran's BIRD PEOPLE, an ennui feather fantasy with shades of The Witches (Isabel Stevens)
BIRD PEOPLE (Ferran) Feels subtly brave until it's outwardly radical. I'm baffled but entranced. Think this might be special. A- (Jordan Cronk)
Bird People (Ferran): 80. Hated the last three minutes (which are crucial); adored everything else. Truly extraordinary. Read nothing. (Mike D'Angelo) ...and I will obey!

Cannes Classics
Life Itself by Steve James
Cannes pays tribute to Roger Ebert by showing Steve James film about the film critic.
Overlord by Stuart Cooper
After winning the Jury's Special Prize in 1975 at the end of the 25th Berlinale, the American director Stewart Cooper decided to restore one of his most powerful films on the absurdity of war – and also the most richly documented, Overlord.

Cinéma de la Plage
Seconds by John Frankenheimer
First screened in Cannes in 1966. This feature film is a good example of the bold visual style of the American filmmaker, who took risks at a time when Hollywood was still very reticent about casting off its conformist codes.

Quinzaine des Réalisateurs

Mange Tes Morts (Eat Your Bones) by Jean-Charles Hue

Not sure what to think about this movie as seems will be too violent for my taste. Check the synopsis.
18 year old Jason Dorkel belongs to a community of gypsies. He is about to celebrate his baptism when his half-brother Fred returns after fifteen years in prison. Together, with their last brother, the violent, hot-headed Michael and their Christian activist cousin, the four young people set off on a binge among the "gadjos" in search of a cargo of copper.

Reactions to film
French shotgun story combines documentary and film noir traditions for generally compelling results. (Jordan Mintzer-THR)
Mange tes morts" présenté à la 15zaine : un film qui ne vole pas haut, concentré des idées toutes faites sur les gens du voyage (Culturebox)
Mange tes morts met en scène des figures quasi mythologiques, héritiers de traditions et d’un mode de vie séculaires, vivant en autarcie, envers et contre tous. (Olivier Père-arte France Cinema)

Cold in July by Jim Mickle

Another violent movie starring Michael C. Hall, Don Johnson, Sam Shepard among others. Seems that if you like the "violent/horror genre" then you probably will enjoy this film. I don't. Film premiered in Sundance. Check synopsis
How can a split-second decision change your life? On a balmy Texas night in 1989, Richard Dane shoots the man who breaks into his home. Despite being hailed as a small town hero, his life begins to unravel into a dark underworld of corruption and violence.

Reactions to film
Full-blooded Texas noir COLD IN JULY = super-strong (Tim Robey
Sam Shepard AND Don Johnson! Indie thriller COLD IN JULY is a lean, mean Southern-fried treat (Time Out Film)
#ColdinJuly: Classy grindhouse fare from Jim Mickle ('Stake Land', 'WAWWA') with an excellent turn from Don Johnson. (CineVue)
At its best as a modest character study that flirts with suspense. (Slant Magazine)

These Final Hours by Zak Hilditch

Maybe not violent but this film is about the last day on earth. sigh. But maybe is more a drama . The synopsis.
It's the last day on earth, twelve hours before an event will end life as we know it. James makes his way across a lawless city to the party to end all parties. Along the way he somewhat reluctantly saves the life of a little girl named Rose, desperately searching for her father. Stuck with the unexpected burden of responsibility, James is forced to question what really matters as the hours tick away.

Reactions to film
The filmmaker shows promise, but this under-written debut is more of a calling card than a compelling work in its own right. (David Rooney-THR)
Comme l’annonce son titre, ce film de fin du monde australien déroule son programme sans surprise, tirant les ficelles du film de genre. (Trois Couleurs)
My first walk-out this year. THESE FINAL HOURS is a vile end of the world club 18-30 vomit. (FilmLand Empire) Oops!

La Semaine de la Critique

Når dyrene drømmer (When Animals Dream) by Jonas Alexander Arnby

From the parallel sections, this is the film I am most curious as a female werewolf absolutely calls my attention especially when is in a Danish film. Somehow I got the impression that could be similar to my favorite vampire film, Swedish Låt den rätte komma in by Thomas Alfredson. Then you have the cast with Sonja Ritcher (has 2 movies in this edition of Cannes-the other is The Homesman) and Mads brother, Lars Mikkelsen that promises good performances plus the following story synopsis:

The young woman, Marie, is an outsider in the small coastal community where she has grown up. The townspeople live in fear of her and not least her mother, who is wheelchair bound, suffering from a mysterious illness. When Marie discovers her body changing – long hair growing on her chest and back – she begins searching for answers concerning her family’s hidden past. Something that will have great consequences for herself and her family – and the choices she has to make.

Reactions to film seems to describe the film I was hoping for excellent! Right now is the second screening of film so perhaps will add more reactions later. By-the-way film was in Berlinale market and Radius-TWC (yes, Weinstein) bought the rights for USA; check what Tom Quinn from the distribution company said:
"It’s extremely hard these days to find a groundbreaking genre film, but ‘When Animals Dream’ is that rare gem indeed. I haven’t been excited in Berlin since buying ‘Let the Right One In."

A former commercials director, Arnby is a leading light of the Nordic Twilight trend of character-driven, artsy genre films with tight budgets. While the film depicts the teenager’s transformation in an eerily realistic way, in line with Scandinavia’s film tradition, it also weaves in genre elements. It is Arnby's first feature film and also competes for the Camera d'Or.

Reactions to film
This operates on the more earnest, sophisticated end of the horror genre scale. (Allan Hunter-Screendaily) Exactly what I was hoping for, yay!!!
When Animals Dream, the Danish teen werewolf movie at #Cannes2014 is brilliantly bonkers and beautifully shot. (Kate Muir)
When Animals Dream : entre Tourneur, Cocteau et Black Swan, le bijou actuel de la @semainecannes (Julien Lada)
Après It Follows, le danois When Animals Dream : @semainecannes is the new Etrange Festival. (Alexandre Hervaud)
Stark, bright, gorgeous, raw, great performances. Great metaphoric examination of the repression of women. (Shelagh M Rowan-Legg)

Ha-Ganenet (The Kindergarten Teacher) by Nadav Lapid

Suspect this film will not be easy-to-watch because story and how director chose to tell the story.  Take a look at the synopsis:
A teacher discovers in a five year-old child a prodigious gift for poetry. Amazed and inspired by this young boy, she decides to protect his talent in spite of everyone.

But I'm not familiar with director previous work, so let's pay attention to film reactions. Unfortunately there are not many by now and the one below talks about the risk of doing poetry in film as well as some interviews I read.

Reactions to film
Rainstorms, melancholy, and risk in poetic #Cannes2014 THE KINDERGARTEN TEACHER (indiewire)

Short Films Program 2
A Ciambra (Young Lions of Gypsy) by Jonas Carpignano
The Chicken by Una Gunjak
Crocodile by Gaëlle Denis
Les fleuves m’ont laissée descendre où je voulais by Laurie Lassalle
TrueLoveStory by Gitanjali Rao

L'ACID
Cesta Ven (The Way Out) by Petr Václav
No distribution but was able to find some info for the director that now lives in France but returns to the Czech Republic for the first time since he left many years ago. Synopsis: Taking place in the Czech Republic in 2013, Cesta Ven is the story of a young Gipsy couple who wish to live an ordinary life – something impossible for Gipsies. Alone, they lead an uneven struggle against the hostile majority that denies them the right to a decent existence. And they must protect their dignity and love.

News

-Today the second screening of Turist (Force Majeure) by Ruben Ostlund got crowds and major film critics paying more attention to film.  Good. Suspect this film is another that should be in the main competition, not the sidebar.
-Yes is true.  The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby movie has a third version! Now is Him, Her and in post-production, Them!!!  (I thought was a joke, lol)
-Adrien Brody and director Le Tamahori had a photocall to announce the new film: Emperor.
-More new films for the future: Laurent Cantent's Return to Ithaca, Tobias Lindholm's A War, Tom Vaughan's How to Make Love Like an Englishman (with Pierce Brosnan).
-From Cannes Marche films, the source for the new guessing game: Which films will make to Venice Film Festival. The first guesses are those films that are not here.
-Tomorrow will be the turn for two of my favorite actresses: Marion Cotillard and Gong Li plus the trio of excellent directors, Dardenne Brothers, Naome Kawasi and Zhang Yimou! What a day!

-Was looking at FIPRESCI tally and top score goes to Winter Sleep followed by Mr Turner and Timbuktu. Last is Captives closely followed by Saint Laurent.  For SURE tomorrow will change the tally.

-As I suspected about the odds, Julianne Moore jumped to the second place only Marion Cotillard is above her. But it is surprising that Steve Carell is in second place after Timothy Spall in Mr. Turner.

Not-so-serious News

-Every movie has an after party, right happening the Foxcatcher after party hosted by Annapurna at Baoli Beach.
-Today there was an IMDb Dinner Party at Restaurant Mantel. Nicolas Winding Refn on attendance.
-Right now happening the Chopard Backstage Dinner & Afterparty at the Cannes-Mandelieu Aerodrome. Most interesting guest: Colin Firth! Seems that tonight Pharell Williams will be singing Happy!
-L'Oreal changed their ambassadors as of today is all about Cheryl Cole and Eva Longoria.
-Today in Cannes, Elvis Presley's granddaughter of The Runaways, The Good Doctor, Jack and Diane, Magic Mike, etc fame: Riley Keough. No I did not recognize her in the Foxcatcher red carpet.

Photo of the Day

Windy, windy day- Jessica Chastain