Missing Italy

by Eric Blume

We’re not far from crowning a new Palme d’Or winner at the Cannes Film Festival, and part of the fun and excitement for international film lovers is seeing which country takes the top prize.  The last ten years has marked three winners from France (The Class, Blue is the Warmest Color, and Dheepan), and in fact France has won ten times since 1955 when the prize has been named the Palme d’Or (there was a ten year gap in 1964-74 where the top prize had a different name, for those into these technicalities).   

Winning just under that number, with nine trophies, remains Italy.  Once a mighty force on the international film scene, Italy seems to have fewer major filmmakers emerging.  The last Italian film to win the Palme d’Or at Cannes was Nanni Moretti’s film The Son’s Room in 2001...   

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Red Carpet Lineup: Cannes '17, French Actress Heaven

It's been a little overwhelming looking at all the gowns on display at Cannes but before we get 10 whole days behind, let's celebrate the Gallic glory of French actresses. The 70th Anniversary Cannes party that the festival threw itself in the middle of its week long party had the biggest collection of international stars imaginable including these nine giants of French cinema after the jump...

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Cannes Days 7-8: "The Beguiled" and "Rodin"

Another day in May, more cheers and jeers for the competition films. Only five competition films are yet to screen: Fatih Akin's In the Fade (starring Diane Kruger), Good Time from the Safdie brothers, Sergei Loznita's A Gentle Creature, François Ozon's L'Amant Double  (with two of his favorites Marine Vacth and Jérémie Renier), and Lynne Ramsay's You Were Never Really Here (starring Joaquin Phoenix). 

Previously: Day 1, Days 2-4, and Days 5-6
And Don't Miss: Nicole in Cannes Pt 1 and Pt 2

So it looks like the frontrunners for the Palme d'Or, barring any of those five landing in a major way, are France's 120 Battements Par Minute, Sweden's The Square, or Russia's Loveless. But with Cannes and the mysteries of the group dynamics of juries, you never really know until the awards are announced. Pundits always forget that. People who assume that the Palme is a given for ___ are wrong nearly every year. That's half the fun.

Day 8 brings us one of the longshot possibilities for the Palme from the great Sofia Coppola...

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Kidman in Cannes. Part 2.

Hello mortals,

It is me, your ruler and Empress Nicole Kidman here to remind you that perfection is attainable if you work real hard to attain it *giggles* OK, not really, I was born with it.

However, I was sent from my galaxy to share my perfection with you and improve your existence through my many servants across time and space. As I go about being all perfect and stuff at Cannes, I'll leave you with the meek Jose who will tell you stories of my achievements and miracles.

Toodles! 

*vanishes in a cloud of lavender scented glitter*

Thanks your highness! Last time we saw Nicole she was pleasing John Cameron Mitchell, Elle Fanning and Sandy Powell by making her first Cannes appearance in Rodarte. Since then there have been a whopping three reports of Kidmanifestations at the French Riviera. Now let us turn our pages to the second chapter of the holy book of Kidman at Cannes.  See the holy apparitions after the jump...

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A Minute of Silence in Cannes

Cannes went silent this afternoon (a different time zone) due to the terrorist bombing at the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester. Another senseless tragedy.

The official statement:

This is yet another attack on culture, youth and joyfulness, on our freedom, generosity and tolerance, all things that the Festival and those who make it possible –the artists, professionals and spectators– hold dear.

The Festival de Cannes invites all festival-goers to show their solidarity with the victims, their families and the British people by observing a minute's silence this Tuesday 23 May at 3 PM.