Cannes Report 2: Dracula in 3D!

By Moira Sullivan

Daria Argento and Thomas Kretchman in Dracula in 3D

After seven days of the Cannes Film Festival, the party for the celebration of cinema‘s best showcase of new cinema shows no sign of letting up. The real Cannes is nothing like what you find on line. For starters, the red carpet is short, there is a small space around you and although there are a hundred photographers, it doesn’t feel like that. I was able to experience this first hand as a member of the Queer palm jury this year, a parallel but independent section of the festival. Being on the jury has its advantages. For example, last night I was given a Red carpet ticket for Miike Takeshi's surprise screening - narrative based on a manga about a young boy with a scar on his head, worse than Harry Potter. Ai To Makato, a youth tale considered a romantic comedy.

On May 20th I climbed the red carpet also to acknowledge a beautiful film about a couple in their eighties who have been music teachers: Love by Michael Haneke. One day Anna played by Emmanuelle Riva suddenly loses her memory and stares into space. A trip to the hospital does not reveal much other than she needs a small medical procedure.  After the unsuccessful operation she is left to the care of her devoted husband Georges, played by Jean Louise Trintignant.

The deterioration of his wife’s health is sorrowful for him to observe and the way that he deals with his caretaking role is beautifully told. This film is a sharp contender for the Palm d'Or.

As a member of the Queer Palm jury I was also able to see some films in the International Film Critics Awards. Augustin by one of two women directors at the festival, Alice Winocour,  is about a  young woman who has epilepsy, played by French singer Soko . She comes to the attention of a gynecologist, played by Vincent Lindon, who examines her and helps us to come to grips with her illness. We learn  how the concept "theater" developed from doctors sitting around  patients, usually hysterical women as they are called. For the doctors,  the observation of women is a spectator sport.

Another film that was striking was The Hunt by Thomas Vinterberg from Denmark about a young divorcé with a teenage son who finally gets a stable job so that he can share custody of his child with his estranged wife. The job is at a day care center for children and one day the young daughter of his best friend reveals that she was molested by him. The entire city goes haywire.

Dario Argento's Dracula in 3 D was exciting to watch for several reasons. There hasn’t been an Argento movie for awhile, it casts Thomas Kretchman, who gives good romantic reason why he should be reunited with Mina and it also stars Argento's daughter Asia Argento.

Next week a closing report of the Cannes film festival For Movie Magazine this is Moira Sullivan Cannes.

© 2012- Moira Sullivan - Air Date: 05/23/12

Movie Magazine International