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Cannes: Lesbian Lovers, Crooks, Rain, an Honour for Jane Campion…

  • May 29th, 2013
  • Posted by Editor EUAustralia

 

Cannes BlueThe Cannes Film Festival wound up with cheers from the home-town crowd; a film about girl-girl love won the Palme d’Or, as France, amid turmoil, determination and protest, entered an era of legal same-sex marriage.

The festival also presented a special award to the distinguished director Jane Campion.

HOME-TOWN TRIUMPH

The winning film is “Blue is the Warmest Colour”, in France La Vie d’Adele  (Adele’s Life), made in France by the Tunisian director,  Abdellatif Kechiche.

As it was screened, trouble raged in Paris, with major demonstrations continuing against the gay rights reform, now signed into law, see EUAustralia Online, “Threat to gays …”, 27.5.13.

See Video from Palme d’Or film:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0V_X6cUFUw

BRAVO JANE CAMPION

Jane campion CannesCannes itself this year, from 15-26 May, turned out plenty of rain on the red carpet, some street disturbances and a jewel robbery, plus the bouquet for Jane Campion, who  received as a special high tribute, the Carrosse d’Or (Golden Coach), given by French film directors.

The New Zealand director, and long-time Australian resident (picture) is a familiar figure at Cannes.

She made her first winning appearance there in 1982, receiving the Palme d’Or for the best short film, called ‘Peel’.

She won the major prize in 1993, the Palme d’Or for best directing, with ‘The Piano’; the first and only time a woman had captured the top award.   

Jane Campion’s feature films include ‘Sweetie’ (1989), ‘An Angel at My Table’ (1990), ‘Portrait of a Lady’ (1996), ‘In the Cut’ (2003), and ‘Bright Star’ (2009) the story about the poet, John Keats.

She told an audience for the presentation this month: “If you’re a female director in this room, put all your energy into making a good piece of work … So ladies, make your movies.”

 

Reference

Euronews, Lyon-Ecully, Torrential rain fails to dampen Cannes spirit, 16.5.13. http://www.euronews.com/2013/05/16/torrential-rain-fails-to-dampen-cannes-spirit/, (29.5.13).

Festival de Cnnes, Cannes, (Home). http://www.festival-cannes.fr/en.html,(29.5.13).