Almost There: Jean Gabin in "Grand Illusion"

by Cláudio Alves

The Almost There series continues its exploration of the Criterion Channel's May programming. It's time to shine a light on Jean Gabin, currently celebrated in a 10-film collection named "France's Everyman". From 1936's The Lower Depths to 1963's Any Number Can Win, this tenfold serves as a sample of the Gallic actor's extensive career, dramatic prowess, and on-screen persona. Gruff and disaffected, with a cynic's soul and a mischievous twinkle in the eye, Gabin came to embody the French working classes in a myriad of roles from romantic heroes through charismatic scoundrels. Even before the Nouvelle Vague rocked the foundations of France's film industry, the actor had already become something bigger than life. Gabin turned from man into symbol, the personification of his nation's cinema. No wonder he never found a home in Hollywood despite a 1940s detour. Maybe he was just too French! 

Still, American audiences embraced Gabin's movies. In 1938, Jean Renoir's Grand Illusion made Oscar history and brought the actor close to a nomination…

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Cannes Diary #8: Reshaping the world through voices or silence

by Elisa Giudici

TORI & LOKITA

Speak up for yourself and change the world. The problem is that sometimes that the most vulnerable people have no voice, enduring violence and betrayal in silence. Sometimes a forgotten language is found again. At other times silence is a radical choice made. Today, an immigrant story from the Dardennes, and a vivid true story from Agnieszka Smoczyńska, the director of The Lure...

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Cannes Gowns, Round 8

Previous Cannes 2022 Fashion Polls: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7

Cannes closing ceremony hits this weekend and so many stars have already been strutting to the premieres and parties that we have to wonder who will stick around to the bitter end? Or, more excitingly, who might be called back to town for the closing ceremony. They don't tell people what they're winning, from what we've heard, but they do supposedly contact some filmmakers people to suggest that the team should be in town if you catch the drift. But we're getting ahead of ourselves. That's this weekend. In today's roundup, Sharon Stone, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Crimes of the Future's Kristen Stewart, and Zar Amir Ebrahimi who is the star of Ali Abassi's buzzy serial killer film Holy Spider. It's based on a true story though her reporter/protagonist role is an invention.

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Cannes at Home: Day 6 – Trolls, Actresses, and the Whole Shebang

by Cláudio Alves 

Well, folks, it seems we have another strong contender for the Palme d'Or. If Cristian Mungiu's R.M.N had people whispering about awards possibilities, Ali Abbasi's Holy Spider upped the conversation considerably. It isn't the first time the Iranian-Danish filmmaker presented work at Cannes, though Border was relegated to the Un Certain Regard competition – which it won. That same day, Valeria Bruni Tedeschi showed her latest directorial effort, Forever Young. The actress-turned-director already competed for the Palme back in 2013 with A Castle in Italy. Nevertheless, like Abbasi, her first film to be screened at Cannes was slotted for the Un Certain Regard section. In 2007, Tedeschi won a Special Jury Prize for Actresses.

As one ponders these directors' latest accomplishments, let's look back at their first prize-winning Cannes experiences…

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Cannes Gowns, Round 7: Decision to Trend

Previous Cannes 2022 Fashion Polls: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6

Léa Seydoux has multiple films at Cannes which is the norm given how in demand she is both at home in France and abroad. This is the gown she wore to her Crimes of the Future premiere. Brilliant Chinese actress Tang Wei returned to the spotlight with Decision to Leave (which Elisa thinks is THE film of Cannes thus far). If you've been wondering where she's been that three year break was because she recently had her first child with husband director Kim Tae-yong (Late Autumn). Meanwhile the UK's Lashana Lynch and Spain's always memorable Rossy de Palma were right on trend; there have been a lot of metallic and/or disco ball gowns as well as an abundance of brilliant pink on the red carpet of late. 

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