I’ve just re-read F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, in preparation for the Festival de Cannes opening night on the 15th May. I may have to wait until June to see Baz Luhrmann’s film myself, but I’m ready in spirit for this year’s festival. Throughout May, Rialto Channel is celebrating this prestigious festival by screening award-winning films that have premiered on the Riviera, and here are a few of my favourites showing this week.
I’ve just re-read F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, in preparation for the Festival de Cannes opening night on the 15th May. I may have to wait until June to see Baz Luhrmann’s film myself, but I’m ready in spirit for this year’s festival. Throughout May, Rialto Channel is celebrating this prestigious festival by screening award-winning films that have premiered on the Riviera, and here are a few of my favourites showing this week.
POLISSE
Starring: Joey Starr, Karin Viard, Marina Foïs, Nicolas Duvauchelle and Maiween
Directed by: Maiween
Screening: Tuesday 7th May, 8.30pm
Winner of the Jury Prize in 2011 and nominated for the Palm d’Or, this French crime thriller by the director/writer/actress known just as Maiween is a must see. Maiwenn got the idea for this film after watching a documentary about the Parisian Child Protection Unit on television. She then secured an internship with the unit - researching their work and getting to know the officers and how they dealt with their harrowing jobs. Everything in this drama is based on real cases Maiwenn experienced or researched while an intern. Interestingly, and controversially, Maiwenn decided not to reveal how the cases in her film end, highlighting that police officers in the Child Protection Unit are rarely informed about the outcome of the court-cases that come from their work. Polisse was a hit at home as well as internationally, receiving 13 nominations at the French Cesar Film Awards, winning two.
SNOWS OF KILIMANJARO
Starring: Ariane Ascaride, Jean-Pierre Darroussin
Directed by: Robert Geudiguian
Screening: Wednesday 8th May 4, 2013
Another French film, Snows of Kilimanjaro is a strangely enjoyable and charming film, considering it involves a rather violent home invasion. It features all the characteristics of a Robert Guediguian film; class struggle, political issues, the city of Marseilles and the wonderful actors Ariane Ascaride and Jean Pierre Darroussin. There are also autobiographical references, Guediguian comes from a working class background in Marseille where his father worked on the docks, in this drama about a shipyard worker who loses his job and who with his wife is the victim of a nasty robbery. Ascaride and Darrsoussin regularly appear in Guediguian’s films and their familiarity with each other is what makes this film so enjoyable.
SMASH HIS CAMERA
Starring: Ron Galella, Dick Cavett, Liz Smith, Chuck Close
Directed by: Leon Gast
Screening: Thursday 9th May, 8.30pm
Can’t live with them, can’t live without them; for many celebrities this expression sums up their relationship with the paparazzi. Ron Galella is one of the original paps, and has been sneaking and stalking celebrities for over four decades. He’s been sued by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and had his jaw broken by Marlon Brando, but while his tactics include bribery and borderline harassment you’ve got to admit his collection of work is quite remarkable. Its fascinating listening to him defend his career, and others debate whether he’s a bottom feeder and parasite or a true artist. You decide, but it’s hard to ignore that it’s our insatiable desire for celebrity gossip that is mostly to blame.
Have a good week.