Cannes kicks off with Grace of Monaco
- 10 years ago
Once again, Cannes Film Festival throws the cinematic spotlight on the south of France, where A-listers from the silver screen are gathering to promote their latest offerings, and backstage the town is full of wheelings and dealings.
Cannes is arguably the biggest film festival in the world, but the organisers say they are not resting on their laurels. Thierry Fremaux, the festival’s General Delegate, said: “Cannes is still the biggest film festival in the world for many, many reasons, which means that Toronto, Berlin or wherever can’t compete. But it’s not because we are currently the biggest film festival in the world that we will be the biggest forever. We have to think about the future too. And I am very glad the future is very open.”
Grace of Monaco has been chosen to open the festival, and is being screened out of competition. It is a biopic of the life of Grace Kelly, starring Nicole Kidman. The film has not won any fans amongst the royal family in Monaco, and reviews have been mixed.
Canadian thriller, The Captive, is competing for the Palme d’Or in the main competition. It stars Ryan Reynolds and is about the disappearance of a girl called Cassandra. Some eight years after she was presumed dead, there are disturbing indications that she’s still alive.
American drama The Homesman
is also competing for the Palme d’Or. Directed by Tommy Lee Jones, it has a heavy-weight cast including Tommy Lee Jones, Hilary Swank, and Meryl Streep. It is about Mary Bee Cuddy, who is tasked by her church to take three lunatics to an asylum back east. On the way from Nebraska to Iowa, she saves the life of an outlaw, who agrees to help her complete the journey.
The Cannes Film Festival runs until May 25.
Cannes is arguably the biggest film festival in the world, but the organisers say they are not resting on their laurels. Thierry Fremaux, the festival’s General Delegate, said: “Cannes is still the biggest film festival in the world for many, many reasons, which means that Toronto, Berlin or wherever can’t compete. But it’s not because we are currently the biggest film festival in the world that we will be the biggest forever. We have to think about the future too. And I am very glad the future is very open.”
Grace of Monaco has been chosen to open the festival, and is being screened out of competition. It is a biopic of the life of Grace Kelly, starring Nicole Kidman. The film has not won any fans amongst the royal family in Monaco, and reviews have been mixed.
Canadian thriller, The Captive, is competing for the Palme d’Or in the main competition. It stars Ryan Reynolds and is about the disappearance of a girl called Cassandra. Some eight years after she was presumed dead, there are disturbing indications that she’s still alive.
American drama The Homesman
is also competing for the Palme d’Or. Directed by Tommy Lee Jones, it has a heavy-weight cast including Tommy Lee Jones, Hilary Swank, and Meryl Streep. It is about Mary Bee Cuddy, who is tasked by her church to take three lunatics to an asylum back east. On the way from Nebraska to Iowa, she saves the life of an outlaw, who agrees to help her complete the journey.
The Cannes Film Festival runs until May 25.