Collage of cinematic and not-too-cinematic

By Gautaman Bhaskaran

CANNES, MAY 11. The Cannes International Film Festival, into its third day here on the French Riviera, is literally a collage of the cinematic and the not-too-cinematic aspects of life.

If the opening movie, `Moulin Rouge,' was a mind- boggling canvas of colour and image, works like `Distance' and `Kairo' transported us into a world of crime and intrigue.

`Moulin Rouge' - with Ms. Nicole Kidman looking positively unhappy after her break with a husband of 10 years - captures the Bohemian spirit of 1900 Paris, where writers and poets sang for freedom, truth and, above all, love. Though the director, Mr. Baz Luhrmann, mixes up his picture with a song from `The Sound of Music' and references to a wealthy Indian `maharaja' and a penniless `sitar' player, with the huge figure of Ganesha presiding over an Indian film tune, it is enjoyable as long as no questions are asked.

But the moment one does that, `Moulin Rouge' represents nothing more than the restless idealism of a maker, who fills up his screen with flashy men and women, giving no scope for emoting or any worthwhile acting. Even Ms. Kidman, who comes through all this confusion as someone with an admirable talent, finds herself swept away by the passion and current of the times.

Fox, which produced `Moulin Rouge' removed all stops. A huge party to celebrate the opening movie was replete with Can Can dancers; Ms. Kidman herself took the mike to sing a few numbers, while wine and food flowed.

However, the Mayor of Cannes, Mr. Bernard Brochand, asked Fox to leave the setting for the following day so that he could invite a thousand of his citizens for a party. The men and women found that after playing Cinderella for years, they could go to the ball this time. And they went.

This was part of an initiative by the Mayor, his first year in Cannes, to involve the locals in the Festival to a greater degree than ever before. Mr. Brochand also plans many other events for the residents during the Festival. One of them will be a draw in which people can win tickets for midnight screenings. And the day after the Festival, the Golden Palm winner will be shown to the public.

In the midst of all this hype and hoopla, two Japanese films showed the darker side of existence.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : Pak. to impose agriculture tax