Friday, April 19, 2013

2013 Cannes Film Festival: Un Certain Regard


Yesterday we posted a preview of the films in the Main Competition at the 66th Cannes Film Festival. Now we will take a look at the 15 18 films selected to the Un Certain Regard section of the festival.

This section always features a wide range of different styles and perspectives not seen in the main competition, and it also provides an opportunity for new or unknown directors to break through. Five of the fifteen are first films eligible for the Camera d'Or award; won last year by American director Benh Zeitlin for Beasts of the Southern Wild.

Danish director Thomas Vinterberg, is the Un Certain Regard jury president. Last year, his film The Hunt was presented in competition to great acclaim, winning the Best Actor award for Mads Mikkelsen, as well as the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury.

It had been previously announced that Sofia Coppola's latest film, The Bling Ring starring Emma Watson, will be the section's opening film.

Read on for an overview of the rest of the films screening in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2013 Cannes Film Festival:

Un Certain Regard (Opening Film)
The Bling Ring
directed by Sofia Coppola
USA

This is American director Sofia Coppola's fifth feature film. Her last trip to Cannes was with Marie Antoinette (2006), which screen in the main competition and received a divided reception from the tough crowd. Her latest effort is inspired from actual events and follows a group of Hollywood teens who rob the homes of celebrities. It stars Emma Watson, Katie Chang, Israel Broussard, Claire Julien, and Taissa Farmiga.


Un Certain Regard Film
Anonymous
directed by Mohammad Rasoulof
Iran

In 2010, Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof was arrested and given a six year sentence for political reasons. Despite this, he was able to shoot a film and send it to Cannes. Goodbye (2011) screened in the Un Certain Regard section, winning the Jury Prize and Best Director award. Now he returns with another film shot in secret.

Un Certain Regard Film
Omar
directed by Hany Abu-Assad
Palestine

Dutch based Palestinian director Hany Abu-Assad's sixth feature is the first film to be fully-financed by the Palestinian cinema industry. A story of three childhood friends and a young woman whose lives are torn apart in their fight for freedom. It stars Waleed Zuaiter, Adam Bakri, Samer Bisharat, Eyad Hourani, and Leem Lubany


Un Certain Regard Film
Death March
directed by Adolfo Alix Jr.
Philippines

34 year-old Filipino writer director Adolfo Alix Jr. was previously at Cannes with his film Manila (2009) presented Out of Competition as a Special Screening. His latest effort is set during WWII and tells the harrowing story of the Bataan Death March. The forcible transfer of nearly 80,000 American and Filipino POW's by the Japanese Imperial Army in 1942. It stars Sam Milby and Zanjoe Marudo.


Un Certain Regard Film
Fruitvale Station
directed by Ryan Coogler
USA

The 2013 Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize winning debut film from American writer director Ryan Coogler. Based on the true story of Oscar Grant, a 22-year-old who was shot to death by transit police in Oakland on New Year's Day in 2009. The film originally titled Fruitvale, stars Michael B. Jordan, Octavia Spencer, Melonie Diaz, Ahna O'Reilly, Kevin Durand, and Chad Michael Murray.


Un Certain Regard Film
Les Salauds (The Bastards)
directed by Claire Denis
France

Critically acclaimed French director Claire Denis, whose debut feature Chocolat (1988) premiered in competition at the 41st Cannes Film Festival; returns with a highly anticipated title that many expected to be selected to this year's main competition. The film stars Chiara Mastroianni, Vincent Lindon, Julie Bataille, Alex Descas, Grégoire Colin, and Lola Créton in a dark tale of family revenge.


Un Certain Regard Film
Norte, Hangganan Ng Kasaysayan (Norte, The End of History)
directed by Lav Diaz
Philippines

The second film from the Philippines in this section. Independent Filipino filmmaker Lavrente Indico Diaz, known for his extremely lengthy running times, presents his thirteenth feature film. A four hour long effort (short by his standards, as he has films that run for over twelve hours) that may scare away the Cannes critics. No plot or cast details could be found at this time.


Un Certain Regard Film
As I Lay Dying
directed by James Franco
USA

American actor director James Franco is everywhere right now, with four directing and ten acting credits alone this year, it is no surprise that one of them made it to Cannes. This one is an adaptation of the William Faulkner novel of the same name. The story of a woman's death, and her family's quest to honor her wish to be buried in a nearby town. It stars Franco alongside Logan Marshall-Green, Danny McBride, Tim Blake Nelson, Ahna O'Reilly, and Jim Parrack.


Un Certain Regard Film
Miele (Honey)
directed by Valeria Golino
Italy

Well known Italian actress Valeria Golino makes her directorial debut at this year's fest. A film shot in Italy and Mexico starring Jasmine Trinca. It is centered on a thirty-year-old woman who has decided to help terminally ill people in suffering. Also in the cast are Carlo Cecchi, Libero De Rienzo, Iaia Forte, Vinicio Marchioni, and Roberto De Francesco.


Un Certain Regard Film
L'Inconnu Du Lac (Stranger by the Lake)
directed by Alain Guiraudie
France

French writer director Alain Guiraudie, winner of the Prix Jean Vigo in 2001 for That Old Dream That Moves (2001) one of two of his films that have been presented in the Directors' Fortnight; he graduates to the Un Certain Regard section with his latest effort. A thriller set upon a lake that serves as a summertime cruising spot for men. It stars Patrick Assumçao, Christophe Paou, and Pierre Deladonchamps.

Un Certain Regard Film
Bends 過界
directed by Flora Lau 劉韻文
Hong Kong, China

The feature debut from Hong Kong writer director Flora Lau. Notably made with Wong Kar Wai regulars Christopher Doyle (Cinematography) and William Chang (Production Design). A story set along the Hong Kong-Shenzhen border that follows the unusual relationship between an affluent Hong Kong housewife and her Mainland chauffeur. It stars veteran actress Carina Lau and Chen Kun.

Un Certain Regard Film
L'Image Manquante (The Missing Image)
directed by Rithy Panh
Cambodia

Cambodian filmmaker Rithy Panh, a winner of the François Chalais Award for his documentary S-21: The Khmer Rouge Killing Machine (2003), was once previously in the main competition with his debut feature The Rice People (1994). No details about his latest film could be found at this time.

Un Certain Regard Film
La Jaula de Oro (The Golden Cage)
directed by Diego Quemada-Diez
Mexico

Spanish cinematographer turned director Diego Quemada-Diez known for his award winning short I Want To Be a Pilot (2006) makes his feature film debut. The story of two teenagers crossing a ruthless country in search of a better life across the Mexican border. It stars Ramón Medína, Rodolfo Dominguez, Brandon López, Carlos Chajon, and Karen Martínez.


Un Certain Regard Film
Sarah Préfère la Course (Sarah Would Rather Run)
directed by Chloé Robichaud
Canada

25-year-old Quebec director Chloé Robichaud was entered in the short film competition last year with Chef de meute (2012), and she returns this year with her feature film debut. The story of a young woman from rural Quebec who moves to Montréal to run on the McGill University track team. It stars Hélène Florent, Sophie Desmarais, Micheline Lanctôt, Geneviève Boivin-Roussy, and Benoît Gouin.


Un Certain Regard Film
Grand Central
directed by Rebecca Zlotowski
France

This is the second feature from French writer director Rebecca Zlotowski, who won the Prix Louis-Delluc for First Film with her debut Dear Prudence (2010). It is a romantic drama set in a nuclear plant where workers are exposed to dangerous radiation. It stars Léa Seydoux, Tahar Rahim, Denis Ménochet, Olivier Gourmet, and Johan Libéreau.

Un Certain Regard Film
My Sweet Pepperland
directed by Hiner Saleem هونه‌ر ساله‌م
France, Germany

The ninth feature from Iraqi-Kurdish director Hiner Saleem, who now lives in France. He was in the main competition in 2005 with Kilometer Zero (2005). His latest is a thriller set in a lawless region of Kurdistan near the Iraq-Turkey border. It stars Korkmaz Arslan, and Golshifteh Farahani

Un Certain Regard Film
Wakolda
directed by Lucía Puenzo
Argentina, Spain, France, Germany, Norway

The third feature from Argentinian author director Lucía Puenzo, winner of the Critic's Week Grand Prix for her debut XXY (2007). Based on her own novel of the same name, it tells the true story of an Argentine family who lived with wanted war criminal Josef Mengele, unaware of his true identity. It stars Natalia Oreiro, Diego Peretti, Àlex Brendemühl, Elena Roger, and Guillermo Pfening.

Un Certain Regard Film
Tore tanzt (Rising)
directed by Katrin Gebbe
Germany

The debut feature from German director Katrin Gebbe. Inspired by real events, the story is set in Hamburg and follows a young man who finds a sense of belonging with a group of religious punks. It stars Julius Feldmeier, Sascha Alexander Gersak, Swantje Kohlhof, Annika Kuhl, and Daniel Michel.

Another exciting slate of films to look forward to. What do you think about the Un Certain Regard lineup?

19 comments:

Unknown said...

Honestly, this year's Un Certain Regard list is almost just as good as the main list. It just makes me want to Cannes even more.

Unknown said...

The Bling Ring and Fruitvale Station, look forward to those. I feel a bit out of my depth with regards to the other titles you mention.

Unknown said...

Looks like a lot of excellent films.

Unknown said...

There's a couple on here I wouldn't mind looking into if the chance came up, but I'm just feeling about blindly with most of them. My scoff when you mentioned a 4 hour film and no details wasn't too harsh, it would've been worse 2 years ago. I'm changing!

Unknown said...

So far The Bling RIng, and The Bends are the only movies that have peaked my interest based on the those that are involved

Unknown said...

Such a well-researched and interesting post and all I can think of is OMGsoexcitedforBlingRing. I hope you don't mind.

Unknown said...

Definitely. A great mix of veterans and newcomers as usual. Will you be doing another Cannes marathon this year?

Unknown said...

Don't worry, I had never heard of most of them either until I started researching this post. Will be interesting to see if another Sundance winner can score big at Cannes.

Unknown said...

They certainly sound interesting, hopefully most of them turn out to be excellent. Thanks for stopping by!

Unknown said...

I have a strong feeling that nobody will have difficulty trying to score tickets to that premiere.

Unknown said...

Yeah based on the cast and crew, The Bends has a lot of potential. Got my fingers crossed for it. Thanks for visiting, Vern!

Unknown said...

That's cool. I'm also looking forward to that one and hope it does well. Always great to see a Canadian presence on the biggest stage.

Unknown said...

Thank you, Mette! And feel free to yell and get excited here any time you want!

Unknown said...

Great coverage Bonjour, thank you! Lots of interesting ones here, I'm actually gonna see The Hunt on Sunday. I quite like Mads, that's cool he won Best Actor. Oh and I've got my Caesar Must Die review done for tomorrow :D

Unknown said...

Good to hear it.

Unknown said...

Thanks for checking out the post. Been seeing a lot of news regarding THE HUNT recently, which means there must be a US release coming soon.

Unknown said...

Yep lots to look forward to. Thanks for the reminder, I'll head over and check out that review.

Unknown said...

This is a great looking list. I can't wait for the Claire Denis and I confess, I'm a Franco-phile, even if he does seem to have ADD!

Unknown said...

Yeah as @Steven Flores mentioned, it looks almost as good as the competition lineup. Hopefully they'll at least give us a trailer or teaser for the Denis film soon.

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