Activism In The Spotlight, And The Dog

Michael Hedges May 29, 2023 Follow on Twitter

Big celebrations of artistic endeavor never go out of style. Talents and skills are duly rewarded, sometimes along with longevity. While rewarding the arts and crafts is usually the intent, style - or lack thereof - can interrupt. The further up the ladder the celebrity enters. After that, it’s controversy.

The penultimate awards for the 2023 Cannes Film Festival were bestowed this weekend. The red carpet was out, allowing the usual nod to fad and fashion. The Cannes Film Festival is second in importance to the film industry, only by degree, to the US Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars. The two have little in common. One is held in the south of France, obviously, while the other is in - and of - Hollywood. While top Oscar awards, more often than not, are mid-market eye candy with high box office value, the Cannes jury tends to celebrate ‘vive la différance’. Of course, there have been exceptions. Parasite won both the Palme d’Or and Oscar. It is unlikely, said Hollywood Reporter (May 27), of a repeat of the same film winning both awards.

Awarded the Palme d’Or (Golden Palm) - the top prize - was director Justine Triet for Anatomy of a Fall. The film has been variously described as a courtroom drama and gripping psychothriller. Set in the French Alps, it starred German actor Sandra Hüller. Ms Triet and partner Arthur Harari co-wrote the screenplay. Not to be forgotten, Messi the border collie was awarded the Palm Dog earlier in the week for a notable performance. The Cannes jury was chaired by Swedish director Ruben Östlund, last year’s winner for Triangle of Sadness, who described the film as “an intense experience, just what cinema should be.”

Entirely fitting, iconic US actor Jane Fonda presented the Palme d’Or to Ms Triet, who became only the third woman so bestowed at Cannes. This year, seven women were tipped for the top prize, another record. In her acceptance speech, Ms Triet thanked cast and crew then ripped into French politics.

“The commercialisation of culture that this neoliberal government supports is in the process of breaking France’s cultural exception, without which I wouldn’t be here today,” she offered, quoted by public broadcaster France24 (May 27). “The country suffered from historic protests over the reform of the pension system. These protests were denied, repressed in a shocking way.”

Within a few moments, French Culture Minister Rima Abdul Malak lashed out on social media, “astonished,” quoted by Le Monde (May 28). “In Justine Triet's speech there was clearly an ideological background of the extreme left. The government has continued to defend the French cultural exception. Culture is not a commodity like any other.”

Obviously distracted by the emotional moment Ms Triet walked off the stage to greet the jury without the traditional scroll that comes with the award. Ms Fonda, also well-known as an anti-war and civil rights activist, took care of that, pitching it to Ms Triet. The audience erupted in laughter.

Director Jonathan Glazer claimed the Cannes Grand Prix award for the equally dark The Zone of Interest. The German-language film is loosely based on a novel of the same name written by Martin Amis, recently deceased. The story line takes on the family life of notorious Auschwitz concentration camp commander Rudolf Höss and his wife Hedwig, who was portrayed in the film by Sandra Hüller.

Lightening up significantly, the Cannes jury awarded the Jury Prize to Finnish writer/director Aki Kaurismaki for the comedy/drama Fallen Leaves. Described by Finnish public broadcaster YLE (May 28), Fallen Leaves is the fourth in a series of films by Mr. Kaurismaki about working class Finns. The storyline is a couple struggling with struggling.

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