| Day
5 – Sunday, 17 May
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| 79
Days til the Armageddon
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| Bruce Willis is in Cannes for the sneak previews
being shown from the film Armageddon by Michael Bay and also starring Liv
Tyler. Willis drives a space craft that must confront another whose
asteroid pilot is threatening to destory the world. Near the Majestic Hotel
is a billboard with a digital clock giving the countdown until the Armegeddon,
that is to say, until the film opens in the States. As of Sunday, there
were 79 days left to go.
Franco-American deals.
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| Screening in competition today, Life is Beautiful by Italian actor/director
Roberto Benigni is essentially about the Holocaust, yet Benigni, the Italian
Charlie Chaplin (who by the way is not Jewish), claims the film to be “an
act of love” balancing between comedy and tragedy. The audience began applauding
before the film even ended and continued for a good 15 minutes.
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| Another competition film well-received, La Vie Revee des
Anges by Eric Zonca, tells the story of two young girls living in difficult
social conditions in the French city Lille. Zonca is also in the running
for the Camera d’Or as this is his first film.
It is hard to follow the excitement of the 50th anniversary edition
and many of the professionals (Cannes is not a festival open to the public)
seem to find this 51st edition a bit “flat.” On the other hand, the fans,
groupies and young lasses seem more numerous than ever.
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Party-side.
Trident hosted the Love Kills party on the beach that was “fun.” The writer/director of the film, Mario Van Peebles, was mingling and The Indies, a film industry band, gave a good jam session. Human Traffic at the Park Avenue in Palm Beach was busy and sweaty in a younger-crowd, nightclub spirit. The highlight was the two UK DJs, Danny Rampling and Carl Cox, who gave a blinding set. Otherwise, Miramax Studios bused its guests - like school kids – to a dinner that was not for those who were hungry on arrival. The service was extremely long. |