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When in Cannes

Day Four: Saturday 13 May

Cannes gets Political

First Lionel Jospin visits Cannes, now Felix Rohatyn? When the American Ambassador to France visited the American Pavillion on Saturday, the paparazzi screamed just as loudly for him as they have for the stars on the red carpet.

Fortunately they had someone to photograph, as they won't be snapping Kim Basinger. The I Dreamed of Africa star was scheduled to present the coveted Palme D'Or, but announced yesterday that she would not be attending the Festival due to "personal and family reasons." The French press wasn't buying the excuse and wondered if her absence was due to the negative publicity her film has received in the United States.

One star on the rise at Cannes is Italian star Monica Bellucci, who has been re-named in newspapers as Monica "Bellissima." She and Juliette Binoche (on a break from filming Chocolat) lunched with Miramax chief Harvey Weinstein today. Speaking of Chocolat, Peter Stormare (the star of Dancer in the Dark, screening in competition here), signed yesterday to co-star in the forthcoming Miramax film.

The Atomfilms party, usually a hot ticket item at any of the festivals, made headlines in Cannes - but not for the hi-tech-billionaires in attendance. While the Atomfilms staff slept, thieves broke into their villa and stole two computers and market passes. CEO Mika Salmi was pragmatic and noted that, "at least they were thoughtful enough not to take our credit cards or passports."

It's About the Craft…

Julia Ormond is slated to make her directorial debut as well as star in The Dreaming Child, written by playwright Harold Pinter. It is based on the Isak Dinesen short story of the same name about an orphan who gives his life so that his adoptive mother can find true love.

At the Market this afternoon, the Italians took over with a lively and crowded conference on…what exactly was hard to know. The panel took place in the middle of the "Italians at Cannes" booth and lacked translation or even a study guide for the non-Italian speaking attendees. This is the first year that the Italians have made a concentrated Festival appearance.

The Slamdance Film Festival team is again screening films from Festival alumni on the Croisette as part of their "On the Road" series. Harkening to their indie roots, the Festival organizers proved they can and will screen "anywhere, anytime" when they took over a bar in Amsterdam on a seven-hour layover on the way to Cannes from LA. One of their director alumni lives in Amsterdam, and true to the Slamdance creed, helped set up the impromptu showcase. As Festival Co-Founder Dan Mirvish said, "now some guy drinking a mid-day beer at a bar in Holland has seen a film he never even knew existed!"

…And the Movies…

Films screening today in competition included O Brother, Where Art Thou? from the Coen Brothers, and Guizi Lai Le (Devils on the Doorstep) from Director Jiang Wen which survived the controversial demand by China that it be pulled from the Festival.

Certain Regard screened the highly anticipated Women on Top from Director Fina Torres starring Penelope Cruz and Capitaes de Abril from Director Maria de Medeiros (Portugal). Buzz was hot for Torres throughout festival venues especially from press who left their interviews today charmed by the talented director.

Directors Fortnight screened Sundance winner Girlfight from Director Karyn Kusama; Cuba Feliz from Karim Dridi and the Canadian Les Fantomes des Trois Madeleines from Director Guylaine Dionne.

The Critic's Week showcased Amores Perros from Director Alejandro Gonzalez.

Kathleen McInnis & Kerry Shaw