Cannes Closing Ceremony *Live Blog*
Saturday, July 17, 2021 at 2:21PM by Nathaniel R
7:57 We begin with the awards already in progress. (It's always difficult to find a link that works here in the US. Hence the delay) The jury has arrived with their always amusing individual strut ins. The actors and actresses (Song Kang Ho, Tahar Rahim, Maggie Gyllenhaal, etc...) are always relaxed and practiced at this but the directors often look vaguely mortified that they have to display themselves -- have you ever tried walking while everyone is staring at you or you're aware a camera is on. It's disconcerting! Brazil's brilliant Kleber Mendonça Filho (Aquarius, Bacurau) is visibly uncomfortable but Spike Lee, a "star" director, in a suit of many colors, is an old pro at being in the spotlight. He addresses the crowd but since this is a French live feed you can't actually hear the English being spoken because the translators are always speaking over the English. We'll do our best to understand...
8:05 An Honorary Palm to Italian director Marco Bellochio.
8:09 In a major faux pas Spike Lee accidentally names the Palme d'Or winner before any of the other prizes. If you want to know highlight the following text Titane The jury members are trying to help him but the French has confused him. The first actual winner is for Best Actor.
Best Actor CALEB LANDRY JONES, Nitram (reviewed)
He is overwhelmed.
8:13 Rosamund Pike takes the stage to name the winners for the Jury Prize. Two films share the prize.
Jury Prize AHED'S KNEE (reviewed)
Jury Prize MEMORIA (reviewed)
8:18 Apichatpong is raving about Tilda in his acceptance speech for "igniting the fire" and the love between them is currently ping-ponging from the seats to the podium.
Best Actress RENATE REINSVA, Worst Person in the World (reviewed)
Best Screenplay DRIVE MY CAR (reviewed)
8.28 A prize for a Norwegian film, yay! And from our favourite Norwegian auteur at that (Joachim Trier). Reinate is crying and also overwhelmed. I can't hear most of her speech since they were translating it into French but she does thank her grandmother at the end. Both acting winners are young this year.
8:35 Valeria Golina comes out to present Best Director and its a surprise, the divisive Annette wins The Sparks accept for Leos Carax who is having a problem with his tooth (!) and could not attend. One of the Sparks members looks like an evil accountant.
Best Director Leos Carax, ANNETTE (reviewed and second take)
8:38 Oliver Stone comes out to present Grand Jury Prize which is another tie (the Jury really wanted to reward lots of films today). Though he was speaking French on the red carpet for some reason he's now presenting in English.
Grand Prix A HERO (reviewed)
Grand Prix COMPARTMENT NO. 6 (reviewed)
YES!!! Is Farhadi heading for his third Oscar win in Best International Film after A Separation and The Salesman? That would be exciting as its very rare to win multiple times if your name isn't Fellini or Bergman.
8.49 Spike Lee begins a speech about how at 63 he understands about second chances. But then he tries to present the Palme d'Or AGAIN too early. LOL. The jury is laughing. Spike is very eager to award this extremely wild and provocative (by all accounts) movie. The host is running back and forth between the jury and her stand to stop him and remarkably doesnt trip on her long gown! Sharon Stone had to come out first before the Palme was announced.
Palme d'Or TITANE (reviewed)
8:55 The director Julia Ducournau is crying and appears to be in shock even though Spike Lee spoiled her win a full hour previously. Imagining winning World Cinema's most prestigious prize with only your second film! And she's only the second female director to ever win (after Jane Campion for The Piano) Ducournau her speech rambling in English. Wait "I don't even know why I'm speaking in English. I'm French" before switching back.
Finis!
We'll wrap up our Cannes coverage tomorrow with fashion and Elisa's last Cannes Diary.
Reader Comments (20)
Julia Ducournau becomes the fourth woman and second female director to win the Palme d'Or. I'm so happy, especially because TITANE sounds like the kind of violent hallucination that seldom wins such prizes. This is the best birthday present ever. Thank you Spike Lee!
Great job, Spike and Company.
Given the super-sized slate, having a few ties in the mix makes sense. Can't wait for these babies to open!
That's good, congrats to the winners and another Cannes festival come and go. Also when will the predications for the nominations for the 94th Academy Awards be on this wonderful site?
Claudio - you're taking into account Exarchopoulos and Seydoux, right?
Sorry for the shallow comment, but Tahir Rahim can get it.
Lucky -- Yes. They are winners of the Palme along with their director.
HOLY FUCK!!!!!! The most fucked up film that pissed off everyone wins the Palme d'Or! FUCK YEAH!!!! Alright Julia Ducournau!!!!!! YEAH!!! I'm also happy for Leos Carax finally getting a prize.
Jones has just vaulted up the ranks for my Best Actor Oscar predictions.
Annette is a bit divisive, but to nowhere near the extent that the English-language press has really emphasized. But those who hate it, really hate it.
In terms of actual critical results, if you average out the ratings for the competition films for approximately 90 critics, Annette is actually the #3 best reviewed film of the competition. Memoria is #1, Drive My Car is #2.
Ridiculous choice ( saw the film ) of a ridiculous president .
Okay now Titane!!
"One of the Sparks members looks like an evil accountant."
Nathaniel, have you seen Edgar Wright's documentary THE SPARKS BROTHERS? I don't know what the release schedule for that film is in USA but it is well worth catching.
Feels like a love/hate Palme d'Or which is exactly what cinema needs to stay relevant.
Looks like another Palm D'or winner that will not feature at next years Oscars. I can't see Titane getting any nominations. But then again the over rated rubbish Pulp Fiction did well.
"Looks like another Palm D'or winner that will not feature at next years Oscars"
Right. I mean what's the point of existing if you're not gonna feature at the Oscars. Just Cannes by itself must count as absolute failure
Wait is a seppo playing bootleg Martin Bryant? Bloody hell...
goooooooooooooooooooooooood
Too many Americans in the jury and the presenters, so we got this.
Dl -- there were only 2 Americans on a jury of 9 and 2 American presenters (who don't vote) so not sure i follow.
Alex -- aiming for next weekend. I know it's been way too long.
Yeah Ocker, shit's fucked. Especially with the constant wave of young Aussie talent that often make successful careers here and in Hollywood. Streuth.