Cannes Diary 09: Un Certain Regard Winner "The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo"

by Elisa Giudici

The freshly crowned winner of Un Certain Regard at Cannes, is one of several films this year to allegorically reimagine the trauma of the generation lost to AIDS, Diego Céspedes' debut feature is set in 1982 Chile. Céspedes envisions a tavern frequented by trans women who challenge and seduce the rugged local miners. These miners, despite formally opposing their presence, seem unable to resist their allure. Flamingo is the drag queen mother to the film’s young protagonist, who is raised by a vibrant collective of performers and sex workers known by animalistic names like Mama Boa, Spider, and Flamingo herself, whose gaze is said to hold an almost spellbinding power. Tragically she has already been touched by "the plague," the epidemic that also ravages the miners...

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Cannes Diary 08: Queer Cinema Highs & Lows

by Elisa Guidici

Straight couples and monogamous relationships seem to be an endangered species at this year's Cannes Film Festival, especially in the sidebar sections. We've seen a wealth of films centered on queer love stories, set in a more open and aware contemporary world. Yet, this world often still struggles with a perspective that doesn't immediately stiffen when behavior is framed as "deviant." Unfortunately, mere representation doesn't equate to consistent quality. To summarize the spectrum seen here at Cannes, let's dive into the most exciting film and the most disappointing currently tackling these themes...

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Cannes at Home: Let's Wrap This Up!

by Cláudio Alves

The heart yearns for Bi Gan's RESURRECTION.

So, while there may still be some Cannes-related articles to come at The Film Experience, it's time to say a belated goodbye to another edition of Cannes at Home. I hope you've enjoyed this look into past works from the batch of directors who just vied for the Palme. This year, Saeed Roustaee was one of the last auteurs to take their bow at the Croisette, presenting his Woman and Child to mixed reviews that still made sure to highlight the film's cast. Bi Gan brought experimental verve to the competition with Resurrection, which took home a Special Jury prize. I won't lie, despite Panahi's Palme, this genre-hopping Chinese epic about the senses of cinema is my most anticipated title from the fest. Then came the Dardennes' Young Mothers, winner of this year's Best Screenplay award. And as the last competition title, Thierry Fremaux programmed Kelly Reichardt's 70s-set heist drama The Mastermind, with Josh O'Connor in the lead. 

For our homebound festival, let's revisit Roustaee's Life and a Day, Bi Gan's Long Day's Journey Into Night, the Dardennes' Tori and Lokita, and Reichardt's Meek's Cutoff…

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Cannes Winners: Palms from Panahi to "Panda"

by Nathaniel R

Still from "Sentimental Value"

Herewith a list of all the films that won prizes at Cannes. Some of these will come to the US this year. Others will surely be held until 2026 (the whims and vagaries and troubles of distribution). A select few will probably compete for attention at the Oscars in one category (Best International Feature Film) or another (what's this year's Anatomy of a Fall?) 

The winners, what the films are about, and possibilities for Oscar submissions are after the jump... 

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Cannes Diary 07: Palme d'Or Winner "It was just an accident"

by Elisa Giudici

Jafar Panahi's "It was just an accident"

In awarding the Palme d'Or to Jafar Panahi, Jury President Juliette Binoche was keen to emphasize that the prize was not awarded due to the notorious political and judicial circumstances surrounding the Iranian filmmaker, but rather for the profound humanity that permeates his cinema. The reference, quite evidently, was to those who venomously suggest that the oppressive conditions Panahi and his colleagues have battled for decades somehow aid their entry into the festival's honor roll. Yet, the issue is far more complex, much like the narrative of It Was Just an Accident itself...

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