A Cannibal in Cannes 2
Finding myself in a sequel to my fortuitous escapade last year, I was lucky to attend the 71st Cannes Film Festival on behalf of Love Horror.
Last year was all about the parties, so I decided to make my second Cannes all about seeing as many quality films as a I could. The champagne flows very easily and very frequently in Cannes, so you have to resist the temptation after half a dozen!
Arriving the day before the festival, I was able to get my bearings and pass sorted out before the big crush of the event.
A big change to this year’s event includes the press screenings happening at the same time as the red-carpet premiere for films in competition. I was lucky to squeeze into the press screening of the opening ceremony and film, Everybody Knows -where Javier Bardem does his best to smoulder and brood the furniture.
Queueing for two hours for a screening of Martin Scorsese’s first film, Mean Streets, followed by a 90-minute conversation with the legendary director himself was the highlight of the festival for me. I couldn’t have imagined a better scenario to have seen his debut film for the first time. You can tell he threw absolutely everything at the screen. Not a moment goes by without a mass brawl, gunfight, argument or sleaze. Utterly relentless!
I finished the second day with the documentary, The Eyes of Orson Welles, which examined the his work through the prism of his sketches and drawings. I would have liked to have seen more about man’s private life discussed. This was more of a love letter.
Yomeddine – the first film on my third day in Cannes, easily becoming one of my films of the festival. A road movie about an Egyptian man living with the effects of having leprosy as a child. He sets out on a mission to find the family who abandoned him at the leper colony 40 years ago with an orphan boy he’s befriended. A very heart-warming, funny and exciting 130 minutes to spend the afternoon.
The absolute top contender for film of the festival, the winner of the Love HorR’Or, is Border (aka ‘Gräns’). Although I have to admit it’s not in competition and I’ve only seen a fraction of the films at Cannes! Border has the dry deadpan feel of a Scandi drama, with the awkward surreal humour of the Greasy Strangler. Will become a hit on the festival circuit. My review will be coming soon!
Another highlight of the festival was the Korean thriller, The Spy Gone North – an exciting espionage thriller with the best Kim Jong-il impersonator on earth!
I ended the festival on Saturday, walking the prestigious red carpet for the Iranian drama, 3 Faces. I did try and get a selfie, but got pounced on at every opportunity!
Please stay tuned to Love Horror for reviews of some of these films, and many more!
Casserly Uncut #12 – My #Cannes2018 in one minute or less