Films of the day

Takeshi Kitano's festival entry is a departure from the extreme violence and pessimism of previous titles and takes us on a sentimental road movie based on the friendship between a young boy and a middle-aged man. It does not seem to be classed as his best work but good fun. A phenomenon in his own country, Kitano is also known for his work as a television personality, stand-up comic, actor, writer, poet, cartoonist, musician and painter.

This is his seventh film and first in a Cannes competition, although in 1997 he won a Venice Golden Lion for Hana-Bi.

Our Happy Lives, first film by French writer/director Jacques Maillot, is hoping to benefit from the exciting triumph of first film winner last year Eric Zonca with La Vie Revee des Anges. Another French intimate drama focusing six main characters interwoven and entangled in their professional lives as well as their personal lives. Critic views find the film a bit underdeveloped for its 2 ˝ hour screening time.

In town

Jean-Hughes Anglade promoting latest film Dark Summer, a psycho-killer thriller.

Better late than never, Liz Taylor made her grand entrance for the Amfar auctions to benefit AIDS research. A Princess Di dress went for several thousand dollars, while a Hawaiian-colored Mercedes was the big buy of the evening. Attended by many a star including Anouk Aime, Val Kilmer, Angelica Huston, Roger Moore, Greta Scacchi, Delores Chaplin…

Market sales at Cannes this year have not been fast and furious. As would be expected the leading films thus far during the festival - All About My Mother, Felicia's Journey or those with positive advance sales like John Sayles' Limbo and David Lynch's The Straight Story are trading away. But beyond individual film sales, Cannes has been the site of long-term deals and group financing packages. One noticeable presene were the Korean contingency, which is back on the market with big pocketbooks. Could it be that the acquisitions game is no longer linked to major market events but is rather a year-long event.

On the other side of the ocean, The Phantom Menace, episode 1, was right on mark for its opening grossing 7 - 10 million dollars at the box office.

Hot d'Or

Yes, once again the X-rated industry programmed their Oscars right up the street from the Cannes Festival and of course, during the festival 12-day period. As most award ceremonies can be, this one was long. Jewel DeNyle was among the winners.