I just wanted to post the information for the Palm D'Or winning film, The Class by Laurent Cantet. It looks like a (much) better version of Freedom Writers, that god-awful sapfest with Jennifer Garner, which came out a couple of years ago. The award was presented to Cantet by Robert De Niro, and below is an exert from his acceptance speech:
"I have many people to thank... [he thanks everyone] All this is the product of ten or twelve years of work together, in the course of which we have forged a real bond of friendship and loyalty. Here, on this night, all together, we're sharing an intense experience. Lately, the film business has not been especially open to making films that are slightly offbeat. It has become very difficult. Paradoxically, this film was made in a way that was... ideal. I read François Bégaudeau's book, and the whole process flowed from that point almost naturally. We were supported by a sort of state of grace throughout the production phase, from the auditions, where I met all these young people, through the writing of the film, borne along by encouraging signs that proved to be right, through the editing. Though I'm capable of sinking into the depths of darkest doubt at times, with this film there was a sort of lightness, due to the energy and strength of all the people with me here, who are born actors, just terrific. The film we wanted to make was supposed to look like French society: multi-faceted, lively, and complex, with conflicts that the film was not going to try to gloss over. I hope that's what the film looks like, and that we didn't get it wrong. Thank you very much!"
At the press conference afterwards, he revealed that he was pretty confident about winning:
"I'm not all that surprised. Talking about school interests the whole world. The issues are pretty much the same, no matter what country you're talking about. Children go to school to learn something, but also so they'll grow up to be responsible adults, citizens. During the screenings, we sensed that the story was told in a sharable way. A foreign audience got into the film about as directly as the French audience. The discussions we were able to have with people after they'd seen the film confirmed my belief. It was a great source of delight to me, without being that much of a surprise... This film is also intended for people who don't know what school is like, who haven't set foot inside a school for a very long time, like most of us. Nevertheless, they have a set of unwavering opinions and prejudices about teaching, school, and the young people today, who are often portrayed as imbeciles. I hope the film does justice to young people, as well as doing justice to all the work that goes on inside the walls of a school."
The full, good looking press kit can be found here, and you can watch the video of an interview conducted at the festival here.
"I have many people to thank... [he thanks everyone] All this is the product of ten or twelve years of work together, in the course of which we have forged a real bond of friendship and loyalty. Here, on this night, all together, we're sharing an intense experience. Lately, the film business has not been especially open to making films that are slightly offbeat. It has become very difficult. Paradoxically, this film was made in a way that was... ideal. I read François Bégaudeau's book, and the whole process flowed from that point almost naturally. We were supported by a sort of state of grace throughout the production phase, from the auditions, where I met all these young people, through the writing of the film, borne along by encouraging signs that proved to be right, through the editing. Though I'm capable of sinking into the depths of darkest doubt at times, with this film there was a sort of lightness, due to the energy and strength of all the people with me here, who are born actors, just terrific. The film we wanted to make was supposed to look like French society: multi-faceted, lively, and complex, with conflicts that the film was not going to try to gloss over. I hope that's what the film looks like, and that we didn't get it wrong. Thank you very much!"
At the press conference afterwards, he revealed that he was pretty confident about winning:
"I'm not all that surprised. Talking about school interests the whole world. The issues are pretty much the same, no matter what country you're talking about. Children go to school to learn something, but also so they'll grow up to be responsible adults, citizens. During the screenings, we sensed that the story was told in a sharable way. A foreign audience got into the film about as directly as the French audience. The discussions we were able to have with people after they'd seen the film confirmed my belief. It was a great source of delight to me, without being that much of a surprise... This film is also intended for people who don't know what school is like, who haven't set foot inside a school for a very long time, like most of us. Nevertheless, they have a set of unwavering opinions and prejudices about teaching, school, and the young people today, who are often portrayed as imbeciles. I hope the film does justice to young people, as well as doing justice to all the work that goes on inside the walls of a school."
The full, good looking press kit can be found here, and you can watch the video of an interview conducted at the festival here.
Thank you so much for reading; look for reviews from the Festival in next year's issues of The Saint.
Feature film prizes:
Palme d'Or
ENTRE LES MURS (THE CLASS), by Laurent CANTET
Grand Prix
GOMORRA (GOMORRAH), by Matteo GARRONE
Award for Best Director
ÜÇ MAYMUN (THREE MONKEYS), by Nuri Bilge CEYLAN
Award for Best Screenplay
LE SILENCE DE LORNA (LORNA’S SILENCE), by Jean-Pierre et Luc DARDENNE
Award for Best Actress
LINHA DE PASSE, by Sandra CORVELONI
Award for Best Actor
CHE, by Benicio DEL TORO
Jury Prize
IL DIVO, by Paolo SORRENTINO , Paolo SORRENTINO
Special Prize for the 61st Festival
UN CONTE DE NOËL (A CHRISTMAS TALE), by Catherine DENEUVE
L'ÉCHANGE (CHANGELING), by Clint EASTWOOD
Short film prizes:
Palme d'Or - Short Film
MEGATRON (MEGATRON), by Marian CRISAN
Jury Prize - Short Film
JERRYCAN (JERRYCAN), by Julius AVERY
I'd like to thank you, my readers (do you exist?), for sharing my eye-opening time at Cannes. I'm so excited to write up all the wonderful films I saw, and telling more stories from the festival in the paper.
Feature film prizes:
Palme d'Or
ENTRE LES MURS (THE CLASS), by Laurent CANTET
Grand Prix
GOMORRA (GOMORRAH), by Matteo GARRONE
Award for Best Director
ÜÇ MAYMUN (THREE MONKEYS), by Nuri Bilge CEYLAN
Award for Best Screenplay
LE SILENCE DE LORNA (LORNA’S SILENCE), by Jean-Pierre et Luc DARDENNE
Award for Best Actress
LINHA DE PASSE, by Sandra CORVELONI
Award for Best Actor
CHE, by Benicio DEL TORO
Jury Prize
IL DIVO, by Paolo SORRENTINO , Paolo SORRENTINO
Special Prize for the 61st Festival
UN CONTE DE NOËL (A CHRISTMAS TALE), by Catherine DENEUVE
L'ÉCHANGE (CHANGELING), by Clint EASTWOOD
Short film prizes:
Palme d'Or - Short Film
MEGATRON (MEGATRON), by Marian CRISAN
Jury Prize - Short Film
JERRYCAN (JERRYCAN), by Julius AVERY
I'd like to thank you, my readers (do you exist?), for sharing my eye-opening time at Cannes. I'm so excited to write up all the wonderful films I saw, and telling more stories from the festival in the paper.
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