Cannes Winners: Kiki, Malick, and More
Sunday, May 22, 2011 at 4:16PM 
The 64th annual Cannes Film Festival wrapped up today with the jury awards.
Some awards announcements feel like deflations to robust film festivals but not this year. Major conversation pieces won big, extending the buzz if not adding much in the way of a surprise element that can sometimes send hype spinning in new directions.
First and foremost I, personally, must let out a whoop of joy at the news that Kirsten Dunst took Best Actress. I've long been a champion of her underappreciated gifts. She's one of those rare actresses who is just as skilled at both comedic and dramatic roles and her filmography will eventually have the last laugh over her many detractors. Her "comeback", artistically speaking, probably started with All Good Things this December. She won very complimentary reviews and a last minute Oscar campaign even though the film itself didn't get much attention. [The Film Experience Interview from Kirsten Dunst if you missed it.]
Gif via Rich at FourFour
Main Jury (Robert DeNiro was Jury President)
This jury, the jury that gets all the attention, hands out the prizes for the films in the main competition roster. But Cannes has several sidebars as well.
PALME D'OR The Tree of Life by Terrence Malick.
GRAND PRIX (runner up) The Kid With The Bike by the Dardenne Brothers who seem to win something each and every year and Once Upon a Time in Anatolia by Nuri Bilge Ceylan
JURY PRIZE Polisse by Maïwenn Le Besco (we discussed her very briefly)
DIRECTOR Nicolas Winding Refn for Drive (making good on the critical excitement)
SCREENPLAY Joseph Cedar for Footnote
ACTOR Jean DuJardin for The Artist
ACTRESS Kirsten Dunst for Melancholia (see previous posts)
Camera D'Or (Jury President Bong Joon Ho, of Mother and The Host fame)
GOLDEN CAMERA (Best First Feature) Las Acacias directed by Pablo Giorgelli [Argentina]
Un Certain Regard (Jury President Emir Kusturica of Underground and Black Cat White Cat fame)
PRIZE OF UN CERTAIN REGARD (tie) Arirang by Kim Ki-Duk and Stopped on Track by Andreas Dresen
SPECIAL JURY PRIZE Elena by Andrey Zvyaginstev
DIRECTING PRIZE Mohammad Rasoulof for Bé Omid é Didar
Critics Week (Jury President Chang-dong Lee of Poetry and Secret Sunshine fame)
This jury concentrates on new directors (meaning first or second timers)
FEATURE Take Shelter (which played at Sundance) starring Michael Shannon & Jessica Chastain.
SPECIAL MENTION Snowtown (a controversial choice)
CID/CCAS and the OFAJ Las Acacias (which also won the Camera D'Or)
The Skin I Live In wins a Cinematography Prize. Notice the poster on the wall is the one they've been using for the film's teaser poster
C.S.T
VULCAN PRIZE (for an artist technician) went to cinematographer José Luis Alcaine for Pedro Almodóvar's The Skin I Live In (previous posts)
SPECIAL DISTINCTION went to Sound Designer Paul Davies and Editor Joe Bini for Lynne Ramsay's We Need To Talk About Kevin
Cross-CountryCinefondation and Short Films (Jury President Michel Gondry)
SHORT FILMS
PALME D'OR Cross-Country by Maryna Vroda
JURY PRIZE Swimsuit 46 by Wannes Destoop
CINEFONDATION
1ST PRIZE Der Brief (The Letter) by Dorotyea Droumeva
2ND PRIZE Drari by Kamal Lazraq
3RD PRIZE Fly By Night by Son Tae-gyum
In terms of the Oscar race, which rarely correlates with Cannes and doesn't need to, this still adds a helpful sheen of prestige to The Tree of Life, Melancholia and Take Shelter which will all see the US marketplace. Given the multiple prizes for the Argentinian debut film Las Acacias one also wonders if it will be Argentina's Oscar submission?
What do you make of all this? Did anything surprise you?
Reader Comments (36)
ARIRANG won in a tie with STOPPED ON TRACK by Andreas Dresen.
Plenty of surprises and overall a great year from Cannes. I definitely didn't think Tree of Life would take the best prize. Perhaps I failed to remember that "mixed reviews out of Cannes" often means little. Still, I wonder about the awards potential knowing now that it is indeed a demanding film.
Who knows what to make of Melancholia's chances. Oscar has been ignoring Lars for a long time, and the "controversy" (quotes intentional) certainly won't help. But I hope then can at least give Kiki a fair shot.
Whether The Artist can actually have an Oscar chance (as Harvey seems to think), how much Drive further buoys Gosling's big year (we hope) and other questions remain. I think I came away from Cannes more excited for the year in movies and more confused about the year in Oscars to come.
robert -- and both of those things are kind of awesome results yes? I mean who needs to be certain of Oscar. It's more fun to be confused.
Kirsten Dunst is now the third actress to have won Best Actress at Cannes for a Lars Von Trier movie. People can say what they want about his supposed misogyny, but the fact is that he's a great actress director and writes challenging, great roles for women.
I'm just excited that Tree of Life after years of it being a potential contender seems legitmate. if it hadn't all those previous inclusions on early oscar list might have seemed a waste.
Kiki winning made my day. Curiously some people thought Charlotte Gainsbourg would win for this, not Kiki. Now let's make Oscar happen!
I was expecting The Skin I Live In wouldn't take the Palme D'Or. There was a piece about the movie in Cannes (didn't catch it from the beginning) yesterday on TV. They interviewed the head/director/manager of the Festival. He said he hoped Almodóvar would eventually win the Palme d'Or with this or with any other movie, but that even though the list of past winners had big names, the list of those who have never won is even more impressive. That is, he was cleaning the way for a non-win which otherwise was Malick's all the time, wasn't it?
If you make a movie every twenty years, aren't you forcing people to notice you the few times you make a movie, regardless of its quality? Won't the jury want to reward someone they don't know if they'll ever be able to reward? And in the end, isn't Cannes taking the worst part of the Oscar route, creating the dues/overdues stars, director stars in this case? I don't know, if the Artist was the real sensation of the Festival, wouldn't it have been more honest giving it the big prize? Or do you give them to the already acclaimed directors?
I'm rambling, I know, it's that in that piece I mentioned before, Almodóvar himself said something really interesting. He said he spent year after year sending every movie he made since Entre tinieblas to all the sections in the festival. They were rejected as minor works, even Women on the Verge was rejected. He said by then he decided to stop sending the movies, until in 1999 they chose All About My Mother. So, it makes you wonder if they chose it just because it was an obvious choice (so was Women on the Verge...) or because it would've been ridiculous not doing it, being an established household name. I do think the way Festivals work must be far more intriguing and interesting than most awards bodies.
Thrilled for Kirsten and she may be able to ride this for the rest of the year...it's possible other critics groups will respond favorably toward her despite the Lars' movies being outside the mainstream awards frenzy. I had heard that she was a top contender to win, but it still really shocked me to see her walking up there and accepting the prize. She's finally got some recognition.
Also, this feels like Brad Pitt's year to win an Oscar...I just feel it. In either lead for Moneyball or supporting for Tree of Life. He'll be up on that stage.
Just for a second I closed my eyes and pretended that Kirsten Dunst won this award in 2006 for Marie Antoinette.
It is really satisfying that five years after her career probably hit rock bottom in Cannes with that undervalued gem, she is back in the spotlight at the same place. Regarding Oscar buzz, I think that if On the Road is any good, she could get her first Oscar nom this year. It's always been the case that a second strong performance within one year can do wonders, and on paper, her role should be meaty.
Yay for Kiki!
Surprised that Tree of Life won Palme d'or after reading mostly not so impressed reviews.
I'm excited for Dunst's Oscar prospects now—if you look at von Trier women whose work was overlooked by the Academy, the films were much more thematically and conceptually challenging than Melancholia. Dogville was too weird (and also, not visually conducive to AMPAS) and happened during a time when Nicole Kidman couldn't catch a single break. Even if Charlotte Gainsbourg had a high enough American profile to make a splash in an Oscar race, Antichrist was too controversial/vulgar. And then, Bjork—who had sparse but passionate fans, couldn't get traction for that weird musical.
Melancholia, on the other hand, at least visually appears to be von Trier's version of a prestige epic. It looks classier than his other films, and on top of that, Kirsten Dunst doesn't have to tell people who she even is (like Gainsbourg) or sell herself as a legitimate actress (Bjork). I think if this campaign is handled correctly, Dunst could reasonably sail to a nomination. It is yet to be seen what kind of critical/commercial reaction the film gets stateside, but wouldn't it be awesome if this turned out to be Kiki's Black Swan moment?
If there's ever been a younger actress I could root for to sail past her older competition (Streep, Close, etc) it would be Kirsten Dunst finally getting her due. But it's important to remember that winning at Cannes is a capital-B capital-D Big Deal. I'm glad an enormous Dunst triumph has gone down in the books.
Happy for Kirsten as well. Now does DRIVE have any Oscar chances?
@ caroline Great point, I completely agree.
And I'm very pleased for Kirsten Dunst. I just rewatched Dick (1999) last night and had forgotten how funny she was in that (Michelle Williams too).
Ryan -- hmmm. Oscar is so fuddy-duddy about "genre" unless it's "genre prestige" and from my understanding DRIVE Is not that. but we'll see. the year suddenly feels exciting right? Glad Cannes is finally getting 2011 started proper.
Hayden --good points all. But I still think it'll be a tough sell. especially given that we don't know what the release will be like in america. there are so many ways to screw up theatrical releases these days.
Chris -- i hadn't even thought of that. and i'm still so embarrassed for the entire Earth that they couldn't see the worth of Marie Antoinette. Ah well. I feel vindicated today for loving her all along. since 1999 bitches.
caroline -- what you said.
Kirsten Dunst is in that perfect age bracket for AMPAS, too. I'm very, very excited for her and her film!
OMGGGG!!!! I COULD ALMOST CRY FOR KIKI!!!
I know that's really pathetic, haha, but she's been one of my favorite actresses since I was in the single-digit age bracket. I was rooting for her so hard, and I'm so so so happy she's finally getting some recognition for her amazing, underrated talent.
I can't wait to see what this film can bring her...all she has under he belt is a GG nom for Interview With The Vampire, from way back when.
I hope this equates to an Oscar nod!!! :D
I'm so happy, y'all.
I'm only 18, btw, so yes I meant to say single-digit age bracket haha. I thought I'd specify just in case...
Excellent Cannes Film Festival and great seat of nominees. Few points:
1. Ryan Gosling: Great and deserving year for him. His second nomination and even victory at the Oscars would be the climax.
2. The Artist: Excellent reviews +Weinstein + Old fashioned and "feel good" film + Dujardin prize = A threat for the Oscar season
3. Kirsten Dunst: Bravo!
4. Brad Pitt: Like Bia said.
Sorry- seat of winners ;)
I was rooting for Tilda.
Jean Dujardin is SO hot.
The Tree of Life looks too new age for my taste. Hope I'm wrong.
I think it's worth noting that Dunst becomes the first American actress to win this award since Holly Hunter for The Piano in 1993. That's got to mean something.
And I think Hayden is spot on, Kirsten could fare well given that she doesn't have to face the same obstacles than other von Trier actresses (controversial material, low recognition, etc)
Let's see if a young, blonde American actress was everything von Trier needed to make it to the Oscars.
It’s okay now after Dunst was forgotten for All Good Things. It’s even better she won at Cannes. Now she can walk up to the stage and say, “It’s KiKi, bitch”
Btw, since This Must Be The Place didn’t get positive reviews, do we need to take down Sean Pean from our Best Actor predictions?
Everything has said in the previous posts... I´m so glad Kirsten won and seeing her getting serious recognition!!
Nath, I don´t want to compete with you about our common love for Kirsten, I´m just asking... Do you have a tattoo with her face in your hip? Because I have, and I´m going bed very happy tonight. ;o)
100% agreement with Chris comment about Marie Antoniette in Cannes a few years ago and this like the end/beginning of a period on her career.
Marie Antoniette is one of my favorites ever and I can´t hardly wait to see Melancholia.
Oh... and Chris, about her Oscar chances, I hope there are with this movie but I´m not too optimistic about her in On the road.
Not because she will be bad in the movie or something, is just that I read the screenplay some months ago and she is barely in three sequences with a few lines of dialogue. She will be good for sure but nothing awards worthy I guess.
I love Kirsten Dunst and I was happy for her win but seriously this video with her commentary on her win is, besides uncalled for, a kick in the groin for Lars von Trier:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqvlV76D-qU
He may almost single-handedly given a new start to her career and this is how she thanks him? Enfin.
About the rest of the awards: I was surprised to see 'The Tree of Life' winning, but then again at least it's a title people will remember for quite some time. The remaining prizes were, well, to be expected. Dardenne brothers collecting another prize at Cannes, Dujardin won raves for his performance in 'The Artist'... I wanted Tilda to win this but Dunst makes me (almost) equally happy.
I just didn't like what she had to say. Ungrateful.
Very interesting. Do Lars' leading ladies get bonus points for putting up with him on set? I kid, I kid. I'm sure Kirsten Dunst does amazing things in Melancholia, same as Charlotte Gainsbourg in Antichrist and Bjork in Dancer in the Dark.
In talking about Lars's other actresses and how they fared come awards season, no one has mentioned Emily Watson for "Breaking the Waves." Though she may be the odd one out in that crowd, "Melancholia" seems to be more comparable to that film than anything else in his filmography.
http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/theDailyArticle/58680.html
"What a week! My thanks to the Jury, this is a real honour. I'm grateful to the Festival for keeping the film in Competition. And I'm grateful to Lars Von Trier for letting me play the role with such freedom."
I think she already thanked him on the stage.
Yeah, she thanked him on stage. And I don't think anything she said in that video was uncalled for. What he said was indeed idiotic.
Matt, Philip, I'm not saying what Lars said was not idiotic; it was.
I'm just saying she didn't need to say that. That will only bring her more detractors than admirers.
Seems like her mojo is definitely back,i really thought she deserved a nom for all good things,shame it was a a late release,that scene in the mirror really gets me,here is hoping she gets some plum lead roles that will give her an oscar!!!
"I feel vindicated today for loving her all along. since 1999 bitches."
What, ONLY 1999? Didn't Interview w/Vampire come out in '94? For once I think I've topped you on the actressexual love, Nat. (Can it be?)
Seriously, congratulations, Kiki. It's so rare when a "child star" grows up to become the real deal as an adult actor.
Alex -- good point. comment du jour! :)
Janice -- it's true. I wasn't totally won over by "Interview". I had a lot of problems with the film. I thought she was quite good in it but i didn't feel she was snubbed for an Oscar nomination as many did. I climbed onthe Dunst train with the one-two punch of DICK & VIRGIN SUICIDES and by BRING IT ON i was a fanatic.
Yesterday has been a great day for Kiki's fans. Now let's hope MELANCHOLIA could earn her also the first long overdue nomination
I, too, was rooting for Saint Tilda but I can definitely be happy for Kiki. Taking a big whiff, ya'll!
Awesome to see Nicolas Winding Refn pick up the directing award for Drive. The reviews made it sound so cool and slick and sexy. I want!
LOL @ the Dardenne Bros. collecting yet another award. And it was very close to the Palme d'Or too. They might just win a third one after all.
Interesting that Sleeping Beauty was in some possible Palme d'Or/general award discussions according to jury member Jude Law --
http://www.indiewire.com/article/cannes_11_robert_de_niro_and_his_jury_explain_themselves_at_the_press_confe/
Overall, fabulous Cannes film festival. I doubt it'll be topped for a while -- there was just so much going on this year and such a progression, it seemed, to the not-so-distant future of film. It definitely kicked off the summer film season with a bang and with some of the selected titles not coming out till later in the fall, we'll surely be talking about the impact for the rest of the year. Viva Cannes!
Also, I totally called it that this particular jury might have wanted to honor and pay respects to Malick and his film with the big prize. I attribute it to DeNiro's presence, he just seems like the type that would wanna put further importance on a film and director like this Something about its organic, spiritual nature made me think DeNiro would respond very well to it, I'm not totally sure why -- something to do with his age and being a semi-reclusive and private soul like Malick himself. I can just image him softly stating, in the jury deliberation room, that it was by far the best film he's seen in a long while and convincing the other members to give Malick his due now when they have this ample chance. LOL.
In any case, very cool to see it collect even more buzz. Bring on the release dates already! And the eventual wide-release day.