The arrival of the jury, who deliberated all day in a secret villa, began their awards with a new prize: Best Artistic Contribution that went to Velvet Golmine by Todd Haynes, which is his third feature film. The Special Jury Prize generally goes to the one the jury loves passionately. This year, it was a tie between La Classe de Neige by Claude Miller and Festen  by Thomas Vinterberg. It was the first time in Cannes for Claude Miller with ten films behind him. As for Vinterberg, he was the youngest filmmaker in the selection - 29 years old.

The Best Screenplay went to Hal Hartley for Henry Fool, while Best Director went to John Boorman for The General. Boorman received the same prize 28 years ago for Leo, The Last. He dedicated the prize to the Irish people at this significant moment in their history.

The Best actor was unanimously bestowed on Peter Mullan for his role in My Name is Joe by Ken Loach. While all the men attending the festival events at the Palais are required to wear tuxedos, Mullan was front and center in his traditional kilt. Janet Leigh and Robert Duvall bestowed the Best Actress award to the two young ladies starring in Eric Zonca's La Vie Revee des Anges - Elodie Bouchez and Natacha Regnier. 

The winner of the Grand Prize, La Vita e Bella by Roberto Benigni, was the most punctuated moment of the ceremony. Benigni was ecstatic, hugged Isabelle Huppert and lifted her off her feet. He went on to hug Martin Scorsese and literally kissed his feet, before making his way to kiss every member of the jury. He received a very hearty round of applause from the audience. 

The big moment arrived. The Palme d'Or, bestowed by Gong Li and Jean Reno, went to Eternity and a Day by Theo Angelopoulos. Much surprise for all, as this old-school film was not among the favorites. For Angelopoulos, this was his first Palme d'Or, although he won Best Screenplay in 1984 and the Grand Prize in 1995.

The biggest was saved for last - considering the size of the monster - as Roland Emmerich's Godzilla closed the evening with the final screening at this 51st Cannes Festival. 
 

The art of special effects has obviously progressed enormously since 1954 when the first Godzilla movie, Gojira aka Godzilla King of the Monsters, was released, to be followed by 21 others. For that first film and most of the rest, destruction was wreaked on a toy-scale Tokyo by the producer himself in a rubber suit. 

This state-of-the-art version is signed Roland Emmerich - the same who brought you Independence Day - and stars Jean Reno, Matthew Broderick and Hank Azaria. Following French nuclear tests in the Pacific, a mutant lizard measuring 120 meters finds its way to the eastern shores of the USA and arrives in the city of New York.

Following the closing ceremony, was the final dinner for 800 on the world's largest cruise ship - the Norway renamed the France -  anchored in the Cannes bay.

See you next year
Signing off 
Carol