(Pictured: directors Michael Haneke, Brillante Mendoza, and Jacques Audiard)
In a year when controversy rang up at Cannes - from films in competition (especially Lars von Trier's massively derided thriller "Antichrist") to the relationship between the members of the jury - at least critical approbation reigned in the bestowal of top two awards.
Michael Haneke's pre-World War I drama "The White Ribbon" and Jacques Audiard's ("The Beat That My Heart Skipped," "A Self-Made Hero") "A Prophet" both received immense positive reviews and, unsurprisingly, top honors in the 62nd edition of the festival.
That's where the good news ends.
Despite the high profile line-up, festival favorites Jane Campion ("Bright Star"), Pedro Almodovar ("Broken Embraces") and Ken Loach ("Looking for Eric") were shunned in favor of critically reviled films - three of them from Asia. Brillante Mendoza was adjudged as Best Director for his "chop-chop lady" picture "Kinatay," while previous Grand Prix honoree Park Chan-wook ("Oldboy") was honored with the Jury Prize (he tied with British filmmaker Andrea Arnold for "Fish Tank") for the vampire drama/thriller "Thirst" and Chinese scripter Feng Mei received the Best Screenplay gong for the love triangle drama "Spring Fever".
Imminent scorn from the press and viewing public greeted the Asian filmmakers upon receiving their awards. Even jury member (and novellist) Hanef Kureishi cannot help but express his opinion regarding the prizes, saying “Sometimes good art is hard... It’s not something I want to see again" (in response to the jury's choice of Best Director).
A "special award" was also bestowed to the festival's much-talked entry, von Trier's "Antichrist". Radu Mihaileanu, a French filmmaker and head of the Ecumenical Jury, handed out an "anti-award" for the film, saying that the film is “the most misogynist movie from the self-proclaimed biggest director in the world.” This is in reference to a statement by the Danish filmmaker at a post-screening news conference.
At least, Best Actress winner Charlotte Gainsbourg have kind words to say about director Lars von Trier (considering her onscreen struggles in the film), pointing out that “I admire his work, I admire everything he did... I know people have different opinions about the film... He’s a great artist.”
Here's the complete list of winners:
Palme d’Or: “The White Ribbon” (Das Weisse Band), directed by Michael Haneke
Grand Prix (runner-up): “A Prophet” (Un Prophete), directed by Jacques Audiard
Prix Exceptional du Jury (Special Jury Prize): Alain Resnais, director of “Wild Grass”
Prix de la Mise en Scene (best director): Brillante Mendoza, director of “Kinatay”
Prix du Scenario (best screenplay): Feng Mei for “Spring Fever” (Chun Feng Chen Zui De Ye Wan), directed by Lou Ye
Camera d’Or (best first feature): “Samson and Delilah,” directed by Warwick Thornton
Special Mention: “Ajami,” directed by Scandar Copti, Yaron Shani
Prix du Jury (jury prize) - TIED: “Fish Tank,” directed by Andrea Arnold and “Thirst,” directed by Park Chan-wook
Prix d’interpretation feminine (best actress): Charlotte Gainsbourg for “Antichrist” (directed by Lars von Trier)
Prix d’interpretation masculine (best actor): Christoph Waltz for “Inglorious Basterds” (directed by Quentin Tarantino)
Palme d’Or (short film): “Arena,” directed by Joao Salaviza
UN CERTAIN REGARD
Prize of Un Certain Regard: “Dogtooth” (Kynodntas), directed by Yorgos Lanthimos
Jury Prize: “Police, Adjective” (Politist, Adjectiv), directed by Corneliu Porumboiu
Special Prize: “No One Knows About Persian Cats” (Kasi Az Gorbehaye Irani Khabar Nadareh), directed by Bahman Ghobadi
“Father of my children” (Le Pere de mes Enfants), directed by Mia Hansen-Love
INTERNATIONAL CRITICS’ WEEK
Grand Prix: “Adieu Gary” by Nassim Amaouche (France)
SACD award: “Lost Persons Area” by Caroline Strubbe (Belgium / Netherlands / Hungary)
ACID/CCAS Support Award: “Sirta La Gal Ba” (Whisper With The Wind) by Shahram Alidi (Iraq)
OFAJ/TV5MONDE (VERY) Young Critic Award: “Sirta La Gal Ba” (Whisper With The Wind) by Shahram Alidi (Iraq)
Short Film Awards
Canal+ Award for Best Short Film: “Slitage” (Seeds of the Fall) de Patrik Eklund (Suede)
Kodak Discovery Award for Best Short Film: “Logorama” by Francois Alaux, Herve de Crecy, Ludovic Houplain (H5)
Other Prizes
Prize Regard Jeune: “Sirta La Gal Ba” (Whisper With The Wind) de Shahram Alidi (Iraq)
DIRECTORS’ FORTNIGHT
Art Cinema Award: “J’ai tue ma mere” (I Killed My Mother) by Xavier Dolan (Canada)
Special Mention: “La Merditude des choses” by Felix van Groeningen (Belgique/Belgium)
7e Prix Regards Jeunes 2009: “J’ai tue ma mere” (I Killed My Mother) by Xavier Dolan (Canada)
SACD Prize: “J’ai tue ma mere” (I Killed My Mother) by Xavier Dolan (Canada)
The Europa Cinemas Label: “La Pivellina” by Tizza Covi and Rainer Frimmel (Autriche/Austria)
French Short films prize: “Montparnasse” (France)
FIPRESCI CRITICS AWARDS
Cannes Competition: “The White Ribbon” (Das Weisse Band), directed by Michael Haneke
Un Certain Regard: “Police, Adjective” (Politist, Adjectiv), directed by Corneliu Porumboiu
Director’s Fortnight/Critics’ Week: “Amreeka”, directed by Cherien Dabis
(Photos courtesy of AFP.)
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