Daily Recap
17 May - Day 11

Between France's trains on strike and Air France (also in negotiations) cancelling flights regularly, it's anyone's guess how closing night participants will arrive. Catherine Deneuve did arrive today and will announce the Palme d'or winner tomorrow night. In 87, she gave the same award to Maurice Pilat. As for the jury, they will retire for deliberations during the day.

The last press conference was held today for the film Happy Together by Wong Kar-Wai. The action takes place in Argentina, the music tangos, but the film talks mostly about Hong Kong. Kar-Wai works closely with his chief operator Christopher Doyle, playing with the character's emotions by shifting back and forth between B & W and color.

With East Palace, West Palace, Happy Together is the second film from Asia dealing with homosexual relationships. As for Kar-Wai, he is uncertain what sort of restrictions may be put on his film when Hong Kong changes hands the first of July, nor the changes it will mean to his career.

The Serpent's Kiss also showed today. Philippe Rousselot shot this 18th century comedy/mystery in England, starring Ewen McGregor, Greta Scacchi and Carmen Chalplin, granddaughter of Charlie Chaplin. Chief operator for Jean-Jacques Annaud among others, Rousselot's first film as a director jumped from the Certain Regard section into the official competition when two other films were scratched - Mad City by Costa-Gavras which was not ready and Keep Cool which was held back by the Chinese authorities.

The French films presented at the festival have faired well in the film market. Ma Vie en Rose has already made sales worth 21 million francs, two-thirds of the film's budget. Western and The Forbidden Woman have sold to twelve countries. The parallel section Cinemas en France presented seven films during this festival, more than half of which were first films.

The European film industry seems to be thriving elsewhere as well. Britain shows an increase in the number of films made - 130, expecting to make 200 next year. Spanish filmmaking is also on the rise leveling off at about one hundred. Could it mean that American movie saturation at the box offices will be in for some stiff competition?

The actors have complained about not having a minute to themselves and the press grumbles over frustratingly short interviews. Press Junkets are the latest trend. A number of interviewers are organized for the same ten minute session allowing about eight questions. Sigourney Weaver said that in America she has been subjected to interviews every eight minutes for a total of 56 per day and felt it was unfortunate because she just kept repeating the same thing.

Selling to 20 - 30 television stations, Capa has had the exclusive camera on the stars as they arrive at the airport, except for certain paparazzis planted outside the wire barrier hoping to get a shot of Syvester Stalone arriving with his family. Such a photo could be worth $20,000. But Stalone arrived alone and later during a meeting lashed out at the photographers.

The closing film is Clint Eastwood's Absolute Power. He changes roles and is the hunted in this thriller adapted from the book by Washington, D.C. lawyer David Baldacci. He is accompanied by Gene Hackman, Ed Harris, Scott Glen and Judy Davis.

The general festival opinion is one of deception and disappointment with the so-so quality of the films and the pathetic official selection. The International Critics Week jury chose The Sweet Hereafter by Atom Egoyam. Rumours have it that the team from Western by Michel Poirier was invited to return to Cannes. Could that mean a prize?