The Hindu : Showcase of a splendid mix

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 26, 2002

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International

Showcase of a splendid mix

By Gautaman Bhaskaran

CANNES MAY 25: An extremely controversial movie at the ongoing Cannes International Film Festival was Gaspar Noe's French "Irreversible''. A brutal rape scene that stretches on for an uncomfortably long time had Cannes selectors in a dilemma: many did not want to include it in the Competition, if at all in the Festival.

But the Festival's Artistic Director, Thierry Fremaux, put his foot down, and had "Irreversible'' on the list. This proves the point that Mr Fremaux, who is number two to the Cannes legendary chief, Gilles Jacob, wields enormous powers, and can overrule the committee of selectors.

Talking to The Hindu here today, Mr Fremaux said, "I wanted to show audiences that such violence exists, and that directors could go right up there''.

But "Irreversible'' is an exception this summer. Most pictures here have been happy and positive. Could Sept. 11 have been the reason for such a large number of celluloid works abandoning depression, sorrow and tragedy that cinema has largely come to be associated with in recent years? "I have no idea about that, but our choice had nothing to do with the American tragedy. We picked the best of the lot, the most innovative of the lot, the most impressive...'', Mr Fremaux commented.

Cannes never looked at a name. Only the work. A rank junior could have his film in. We have seen that: Shaji Karun had his first film premiered here; so did many others. If quality be the sole criterion, why is it that four renowned Indian films failed to win a place at Cannes this year? Mr Fremaux quipped: "So what, 15 top French directors failed to get this year.''

India's "Devdas'' (by Sanjay Leela Bhansali) — which was part of the official selections at Cannes this year — was, according to Mr Fremaux, "a window that had to be opened this time. First, I felt that we could no longer ignore India's cinema. Second, I wanted to convey to critics and others that all kinds of films could be seen at Cannes, Bollywood included''.Mr Fremaux averred that he and his team found no difficulty in selecting cinema from a country as diverse as India. "Movies talk a universal language. They have a certain commonality, and I do not think that it is very difficult to understand what a film wants to say."

Cannes has been true to this, for years. It is perhaps one Festival that showcases a splendid mix. This 55th edition has been no different.

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