Cannes 2010

[domino harvey]

The UCR sounded a lot more interesting this year than the main line up. In particular I've heard nothing but good things about Blue Valentine and it's already being positioned for Oscars in December

[bdsweeney]

Q&A with Apichatpong Weerasethakul in which events in Bangkok are discussed:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/con ... ff6da955da.

[heredity4me]

as an Art Institute of Chicago member I feel at least partially responsible for his success.

In America, I believe the supporters of terrorism are themselves considered to be terrorists (no?). Does it not follow that, as a supporter of fascist propaganda, you are yourself a fascist?*

The fact that my surname is Medici probably isn't going to help me disprove the claim that I'm a fascist. The Medici were responsible for a lot of terrible fascist art in Italy. Luckily I think most of that art has been forgotten.

[HistoryProf]

I still can't believe this jury managed such courageous and perceptive choices (and no that's not designed to irritate Nothing though it invariably will). The Binoche win alone is stunning and wonderful. Maybe this will go some ways toward repairing Burton's rep with many wary cineastes.

In other news, expect the British press to be less than happy (still, I'm actually kind of thrilled that Leigh got shut out; not just because I don't generally respond to his stuff but also because it felt so tailor made to resonate with a jury like this one).

There is, of course, a perverse irony to be had in culling any satisfaction from championing films sight unseen, but that doesn't go unnoted and I think with some of these people we can be relatively secure with their reps and the press we have received.

So Kermode WAS right after all!!! they had to give it to the girl on the poster!

[Nothing]

Well, from those very recent comments, it would indeed appear that he has switched sides (I know that he attended PAD demonstrations in the past). Perhaps the time spent back in the north-east has done him some good. Perhaps recent events have led to a crystalising of thought - perhaps both.

I remain uncertain about the film itself, eg. this:

it’s about how we’re still primitive beings in this area of Thailand – how our political situation has kept a primitive state of mind

...still sounds like good-old PAD propaganda. And I imagine that those looking for political insights within the film itself will be disappointed.

Nevertheless, these comments display a welcome change of heart. This is to be applauded. I shall say no more.

[Tom Hagen]

When I read that

Surely the only Palme winner to feature sex between a princess and a thrashing catfish, “Boonmee” is a fantastical tale about a dying man whose past lives — and ghostly relatives — enraptured some critics while turning others off.

I couldn't help but to think that Burton et al had mistakenly awarded the Palme D'or to the Kayne West/fishsticks episode of South Park.

[ellipsis7]

The BFI have a current photographic exhibition Apichatpong Weerasethakul: Phantoms of Nabua glimpsed here... More spirits it seems (not really my kind of thing)...

[James]

The BFI have a current photographic exhibition Apichatpong Weerasethakul: Phantoms of Nabua glimpsed here... More spirits it seems (not really my kind of thing)...

That's another thing: I hope that Weerasethakul's success will bring his video art back to LA.

[Duncan Hopper]

He's at the BFI in person tomorrow doing a talk: Apichatpong Weerasethakul in Conversation

[Duncan Hopper]

Scrap what I just said.

"Unfortunately due to the turbulent political situation in Thailand and subsequent closure of the British Embassy, Apichatpong Weerasethakul has been unable to secure a visa in time to visit the UK. However, instead Simon Field and Jacqui Davies will talk to him over Skype, which although not ideal, does mean the audience will still be able to benefit from hearing this fascinating artist and filmmaker discuss his work."

Michael B, I'm surprised you're not doing the interview after your past success with Skype.

[colinr0380]

I liked the quote from this article on the BBC news site, which still appears to be reeling from the 'shocking' win:

Unless you happen to hail from his part of the world, Apichatpong Weerasethakul is not a name that trips off the tongue. Yet it is one cineastes will have to learn to pronounce after the Thai director's surprise Palme d'Or victory at this year's Cannes Film Festival.

I'm sure most 'cineastes' have had enough practice by now given our exposure to his films through Second Run and BFI DVDs.

[ellipsis7]

Time Out (GA) suggests he can be called 'Joe'...

My wife, an academic, because of the volcanic ash could not get to a conference in Australia last week, where she was to present a paper to an audience of 500 or so... I rigged up an HD webcam with digital sound on the computer in the attic, plus a key light, she e-mailed her powerpoint slides down under, and made the presentation in the middle of the night via SKYPE, twin images of her and the slides projected in the lecture hall in Hobarth - worked surprisingly well, to satisfaction of all parties, including questions from the chair and the audience...

[Grimfarrow]

Scrap what I just said.

"Unfortunately due to the turbulent political situation in Thailand and subsequent closure of the British Embassy, Apichatpong Weerasethakul has been unable to secure a visa in time to visit the UK. However, instead Simon Field and Jacqui Davies will talk to him over Skype, which although not ideal, does mean the audience will still be able to benefit from hearing this fascinating artist and filmmaker discuss his work."

Michael B, I'm surprised you're not doing the interview after your past success with Skype.

Actually, he might be able to make it. He got his visa today and is flying into London tomorrow morning.

[Finch]

Peter Bradshaw looks back on the festival:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog ... rasethakul" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hopefully Artificial Eye or someone else picks up Uncle Bonhomee and gives it the theatrical and home video release it deserves (a Blu would be especially welcome).

[Dadapass]

New Wave Films acquires Uncle Boonmee.., Film Socialism, Quattro Volte, and Aurora. Link

[Grand Illusion]

So is Boonmee more on the spiritual/reincarnation side of things? I adored the love story in Tropical Malady before it turned into a Buddhist, gay Predator.

[James]

So is Boonmee more on the spiritual/reincarnation side of things? I adored the love story in Tropical Malady before it turned into a Buddhist, gay Predator.

Firstly, very likely no one here has seen it. Secondly, way to oversimplify Tropical Malady.

[skuhn8]

Slant on Day 10, including a mixed review for Outside The Law:

http://www.slantmagazine.com/house/2010 ... more-13288" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He nails the problem I've had with the two Kornel Mundruczó films I've seen to date:

Mundruczó's visuals don't even really help, ultimately, since their sophistication only serves to draw even more attention to the paucity of his thought. I think Mundruczó could potentially direct a terrific film, but I'm certain that he'll never write one.

...and I agree 100% with his assessment of Mundruczó's Delta, so I suspect he's right about this one too.

It's pretentious, Gothic-tinged, and more than a little clunky. The same could be said of Mundruczó's 2008 Cannes entry Delta, which was so lugubrious as to almost be an unintentional parody of humorless European art films.

Haven't gotten around to seeing Johanna yet, but wasn't in a hurry after experiencing Delta. Now this morning I found out that for his son's birthday party he's taking a group of classmates (my daughter included) to a local art house cinema for a private screening. I don't know what film but this cinema was one of the few to show the last Tarr film here. Well, she loves horses.