Friday, May 23, 2014

2014 Cannes Film Festival: Day 10

Juliette Binoche and Chloe Grace Moretz, Sils Maria Photocall © AFP
  • Day 10 - Friday, May 23


  • Recap of the tenth and final day of premieres at the 67th Cannes Film Festival (Festival de Cannes), which runs until May 25, 2014.

    The final two Compétition films were screened today:
    • Clouds of Sils Maria by Olivier Assayas (France).

      The latest from acclaimed French director Olivier Assayas who makes his fourth competition appearance at Cannes. A film in English starring Chloe Grace Moretz, Kristen Stewart, and Juliette Binoche.

      Official Synopsis:
      At the peak of her international career, Maria Enders is asked to perform in a revival of the play that made her famous twenty years ago. But back then she played the role of Sigrid, an alluring young girl who disarms and eventually drives her boss Helena to suicide. Now she is being asked to step into the other role, that of the older Helena.
    • Leviathan (Левиафан) by Andrey Zvyagintsev (Russia).

      The Russian director returns to Cannes for the third time with his fourth feature film. He previously received the Un Certain Regard Special Jury Prize (2011: Elena).

      Official Synopsis:
      A modern day retelling of the Biblical story of Jobs set in contemporary Russia.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

2014 Cannes Film Festival: Day 9

Ken Loach, Photocall for Jimmy's Hall © AFP
  • Day 9 - Thursday, May 22


  • Recap of the ninth day of the 67th Cannes Film Festival (Festival de Cannes), which runs until May 25, 2014.

    Two Compétition films were screened today:
    • Jimmy's Hall by Ken Loach (UK, Ireland, France).

      The latest from the veteran British director, who screens his work in the main competition for the twelfth (rumored to be the final) time in his much decorated career. Loach is a previous winner of the Palme d'Or (2006: The Wind that Shakes the Barley), and the Jury Prize on three separate occasions, the most recent being for (2011: The Angels' Share).

      Official Synopsis:
      In 1921, Jimmy Gralton's sin was to build a dance hall on a rural crossroads in Ireland, where young people could come to learn, to argue, to dream... but above all to dance and have fun.
    • Mommy by Xavier Dolan (Canada).

      After paying his dues in the Directors' Fortnight and Un Certain Regard sections, the young Canadian director makes his main competition debut, with his fifth feature film in as many years.

      Official Synopsis:
      A widowed single mom finds herself burdened with the full-time custody of her explosive 15-year-old ADHD son. As they try to make ends meet and struggle with their impetuous and unpredictable ménage, the new girl across the street, Kyla, benevolently offers needed support. Together, they find a new sense of balance, and hope is regained.

    In the Un Certain Regard section:
    • Charlie's Country by Rolf de Heer (Australia).

      For his fourteenth feature film, the previous Un Certain Regard Special Jury Prize winner (2006: Ten Canoes), returns to Cannes with a film co-written and starring friend and frequent collaborator, Aboriginal actor David Gulpilil (Walkabout).

      Official Synopsis:
      Blackfella Charlie is out of sorts. The intervention is making life more difficult on his remote community, what with the proper policing of whitefella laws now. So Charlie takes off, to live the old way, but in so doing sets off a chain of events in his life that has him return to his community chastened, and somewhat the wiser.
    • Misunderstood (Incompresa) by Asia Argento (Italy, France).

      The Italian film star makes her first trip to the section, with her third feature film as a director. Charlotte Gainsbourg co-stars.

      Official Synopsis:
      Aria is a 9 year-old girl who unwillingly finds herself to live the violent separation of her parents, drifted apart from her half-sisters in an extended family. Her parents do not love her as much as she would like. Aria, pulled back and forth in the conflict between her father and her mother, rejected and pushed away, walks through the city with a striped bag and a black cat, touching the abyss and the tragedy and just trying to protect her innocence.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

2014 Cannes Film Festival: Day 8

Michel Hazanavicius and Bérénice Bejo at the Photocall for The Search © FDC / K. Vygrivach
  • Day 8 - Wednesday, May 21


  • Recap of the eighth day of the 67th Cannes Film Festival (Festival de Cannes), which runs until May 25, 2014.

    Two Compétition films were screened today:
    • The Search by Michel Hazanavicius (France, Georgia).

      The latest from the Academy Award winning director of 2011's The Artist. This is his second time in the main competition programme.

      Official Synopsis:
      The Second Chechen War. 1999. THE SEARCH recounts, on a human scale, a powerful story of conflict told through four lives that will be brought together by a shocking twist of fate.
    • Goodbye to Language (Adieu au language) by Jean-Luc Godard (France).

      This 3D film, is the seventh time in the competition lineup for the legendary New Wave director.

      Official Synopsis:
      The idea is simple: A married woman and a single man meet. They love, they argue, fists fly. A dog strays between town and country. The seasons pass.

    In the Un Certain Regard section:
    • Fantasia by Wang Chao (China).

      The former Un Certain Regard award winner (2006: Luxury Car), represents the only film from China in the section.

      Official Synopsis:
      Father got leukaemia. Mother was laid off long ago. She had to borrow money for her husband everywhere. Sister went to a night club to be a waitress secretly and soon became a “call girl”. Lin was cold-shouldered at school because of father’s illness.
    • Snow in Paradise by Andrew Hulme (UK).

      Competing for the Camera d'Or with his first feature film.

      Official Synopsis:
      Based on a true story. Dave is a petty criminal who thrives on drugs and violence in London’s East End. When his actions kill his best friend Tariq he’s propelled into unknown feelings of shame and remorse. He discovers Islam and begins to find peace until his old life of crime comes back to test his new belief.