Friday, May 24, 2013

2013 Cannes Film Festival - Day 10 Roundup

Palais des Festivals © FDC
  • Day 10 - Friday, May 24


  • We're now entering the final weekend of the festival. Including today, there are only two more days of competition left.

    Here's a recap of the tenth day of the 66th Cannes Film Festival (Festival de Cannes), which runs until Sunday May 26, 2013.

    Screening In Competition today:
    • From the USA, The Immigrant by James Gray.

      His fifth feature and fourth time in the main competition.

      Official Synopsis:
      1921. In search of a new start and the American dream, Ewa Cybulski and her sister Magda sail to New York from their native Poland. When they reach Ellis Island, doctors discover that Magda is ill, and the two women are separated. Ewa is released onto the mean streets of Manhattan while her sister is quarantined. Alone, with nowhere to turn and desperate to reunite with Magda, Ewa quickly falls prey to Bruno, a charming but wicked man who takes her in and forces her into prostitution. And then one day, she encounters Bruno’s cousin, the debonair magician Orlando. He sweeps Ewa off her feet and quickly becomes her only chance to escape the nightmare in which she finds herself.
    • From France and Germany, Michael Kohlhaas by Arnaud Des Pallières.

      Making his Cannes competition debut with his fourth feature film.

      Official Synopsis:
      In the sixteenth century, somewhere in the Cevennes, Michael Kohlhaas, a prosperous horse merchant, leads a comfortable and happy family life. Victim of an injustice, this righteous and honest man raises an army and plunders cities to restore his right.
    In the Un Certain Regard section:
    • From Iran, Dast-Neveshtehaa Nemisoosand (Manuscripts Don't Burn) by Mohammad Rasoulof.

      Winner of the Jury Prize and Best Director in Un Certain Regard in 2011 for Goodbye.

      Official Synopsis:
      Khosrow and Morteza set out on a mission to kill someone. The assassination ought to be arranged as a suicide. At the last minute however, they are obliged to change their initial plans…
    Competition Film
    The Immigrant
    directed by James Gray
    USA
    Quotes from the press conference:

    "It's true, when one has to learn a different language, it helps to develop a character that's different from myself."Marion Cotillard on having to speak Polish in the role.
    "When you talk to actors, sometimes you don't even have to watch them act. The minute you talk to them and get a sense of that intelligence, you know that they can be wonderful."James Gray on Marion Cotillard

    Critical response:
    "It’s a double-edged sword the director has contemplated in all his later-set classical works, but never quite as beautifully or broken-heartedly as he does here."Guy Lodge (In Contention)
    "A self-conscious approximation of Hollywood’s Golden Age, and the result, while reasonably compelling, feels secondhand."Mike D'Angelo (The AV Club)
    "Contained, restrained, thoughtful filmmaking that satisfies on nearly every level, except for the desire for a little chaos."Jessica Kiang (The Playlist)
    "At times speaking in Polish, Cotillard makes the movie, creating a haunted figure."Todd McCarthy (The Hollywood Reporter)
    "Though Gray offers a well-crafted package, especially on the visual front, there’s surprisingly little contemporary resonance in this immigration melodrama."Lee Marshall (Screen Daily)
    "Recognizing the deep, haunted quality of Cotillard’s gaze, he features her eyes as the soul of his story, counting on their mournful quality to play to the back of the house."Peter Debruge (Variety)

    Competition Film
    Michael Kohlhaas
    directed by Arnaud des Pallières
    France, Germany

    Critical response:
    "Works well in its action moments, in spite of failing to unite its audience around its principle, which does not always allow for any emotional identification with the character"Domenico La Porta (Cineuropa)
    "Given the richness of the theme, helmer Pallieres seems more inspired by landscape than by history or any contemporary resemblances."Jay Weissberg (Variety)
    "Part of the problem lies with des Pallières failing to make interesting use of Mikkelsen, who never does much more than use his steely gaze to play Kohlhaas as a Clint Eastwood avant la lettre."Jonathan Romney (Screen Daily)
    "Excels in its gorgeous settings, impressive horse stunts and intricately lit widescreen cinematography (by Jeanne Lapoire, A Castle in Italy), but fails to build sufficiently interesting characters, and a dramatic enough arc, to carry it through a rather plodding two-hour running time."Jordan Mintzer (The Hollywood Reporter)
    "A sombre and brilliantly-realised period revenge drama, armed with a lurking muscularity"John Bleasdale (CineVue)

    Un Certain Regard Film
    Dast-Neveshtehaa Nemisoosand (Manuscripts Don't Burn)
    directed by Mohammad Rasoulof
    Iran

    Critical response:
    "An unflinching portrait of state-sponsored evil, Manuscripts Don’t Burn feels like the work of an angry artist who has been jailed, censored and harassed too long. This time it’s personal."Stephen Dalton (The Hollywood Reporter)
    "A brave, challenging picture that makes the viewer complicit in the action."Alissa Simon (Variety)

See our other #Cannes2013 coverage:

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Fantastic coverage, Bonjour!! I'm interested in The Immigrant (though I'm generally not fond of Renner) and Michael Kohlhaas (because Mads is in it!). Thanks for bringing those films to my attention, as always.

Unknown said...

I'm glad there's excellent reviews for "The Immigrant" and the praise towards Marion Cotillard is just awesome. It looks like she's set to become the best actress working today.

Unknown said...

Manuscripts Don't Burn sounds like something I'd really enjoy.. as long as I'm in the mood for it. Really have no idea what I'd make of the others though.

Unknown said...

Nice to see them giving James Gray some love. These reviews all look a bit more lively. I'm looking forward to each of these.

Unknown said...

I'm not a big fan of Renner either, but I'm still quite excited for The Immigrant. I think Gray is a solid director, and who doesn't love Marion?

Unknown said...

Become?, I think she already is.

Unknown said...

It does appear to be an interesting premise and also a powerful personal statement, from the sounds of it, the director has burnt his bridges with the Iranian govt. with this one.

Unknown said...

Me too. I'm fond of the use of a historical setting to show modern parallels, and both The Immigrant and Michael Kohlhaas seem to be just that kind of film. Also interested to see if there's any Vlacil influence to be found.

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