‘Blindness’ Clip
‘Blindness,’ based on the bestselling 1998 novel by Nobel Prize-winning Portuguese writer José Saramago is an allegory about the fragile state of civil society and the human spirit.
“Blindness” is narrated by Danny Glover, a late addition to the film, Fernando Meirelles said, because the director wanted to weave Saramago’s actual prose and reflections into the action, adapted from the novel to the screen by screenwriter Don McKellar.
Although Saramago’s book was published 10 years ago, it was not for lack of trying that the film adaptation took so long to wend its way to the screen.
By his own account, Saramago declined to sell rights to the book for years, turning away a host of suitors, including the Weinsteins, Whoopi Goldberg and actor García Bernal, who ended up co-starring in the film.
The author has said at various times that he resisted because it’s a violent book about social degradation and rape, and he didn’t want it given the typical Hollywood horror treatment. Continue Reading…
Cannes 2008 – Screenings Guide On Line!
Competition:
Cannes 2008 – Un Certain Regard Jury Complete
Fatih Akin will preside the Un Certain Regard Jury at the Festival de Cannes from May 14-25, 2008.
German director, scriptwriter and producer, Fatih Akin was awarded the Best Screenplay Prize at the 60th Festival de Cannes with The Edge of Heaven.
To grant the Un Certain Regard Prize, he will be surround with the Indian journalist Anupama Chopra (New Delhi Television), the Russian journalist Catherine Mtsitouridze (1ère chaîne nationale russe), Egyptian critic Yasser Moheb (Al Ahram Hebdo) and by José Maria Prado, Filmoteca Española Manager.
The Prize is awarded each year by its jury during the Closing of Un Certain Regard which stands at the Debussy theatre, on the eve of the Closing Ceremony. It is offered with the kind collaboration of the Fondation Groupama-Gan pour le cinéma.
Cannes 2008 – ‘Synecdoche, New York’
Many of you will recognize Charlie Kaufman’s name from his unique screenwriting credits: Being John Malkovich, Human Nature, Adaptation, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind and Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind.
The movie stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Catherine Keener, Michelle Williams and Samantha Morton.
Theater director Caden Cotard (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is mounting a new play. Fresh off of a successful production of Death of a Salesman, he has traded in the suburban blue-hairs and regional theater of Schenectady for the cultured audiences and bright footlights of Broadway.
Armed with a MacArthur grant and determined to create a piece of brutal realism and honesty, something into which he can put his whole self, he gathers an ensemble cast into a warehouse in Manhattan’s theater district.
He directs them in a celebration of the mundane, instructing each to live out their constructed lives in a small mockup of the city outside. As the city inside the warehouse grows, Caden’s own life veers wildly off the tracks. The shadow of his ex-wife Adele (Catherine Keener), a celebrated painter who left him years ago for Germany’s art scene, sneers at him from every corner.
Somewhere in Berlin, his daughter Olive is growing up under the questionable guidance of Adele’s friend, Maria (Jennifer Jason Leigh). He’s helplessly driving his marriage to actress Claire (Michelle Williams) into the ground. Sammy Barnathan (Tom Noonan), the actor Caden has hired to play himself within the play, is a bit too perfect for the part, and is making it difficult for Caden to revive his relationship with the alluringly candid Hazel (Samantha Morton).
Continue Reading…
Cannes 2008 – Robert de Niro Present the Palme d’or
The following films are to complete the 2008 selection for the Festival de Cannes:
Opening the Festival, and in Competition, on Wednesday May 14th: ‘Blindness‘ by Fernando Mereilles, with Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Danny Glover, Gael García Bernal.
A third French film in Competition: ‘Entre les murs‘ by Laurent Cantet, with François Begaudeau.
Another film in Competition: ‘Two Lovers‘ by James Gray, with Joachim Phoenix and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Furthermore, ‘Hunger‘ by Steve McQueen will open Un Certain Regard, on Thursday May 15th.
The Jury, presided by Sean Penn, welcomes two new members, the French actress Jeanne Balibar and the Iranian author-director Marjane Satrapi.
Finally, Robert de Niro will present the Palme d’or, awarded by the Jury, on Sunday May 25th.
At this occasion, and to close the Festival, will be screened ‘What Just Happened‘ by Barry Levinson with Robert de Niro, Bruce Willis, Robin Wright Penn, John Turturro and Sean Penn.
Cannes 2008 – ‘Blindness’, ‘Gomorra’, ‘Il Divo’, ‘Leonera’, ‘3 Monkeys’ Trailers
‘Blindness‘ – Fernando Meirelles
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‘Il Divo‘ from Italian director and writer Paolo Sorrentino, about Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti, who has been elected to Parliament seven times since is was established in 1946, movie is based on true story.
Starring: Toni Servillo, Anna Bonaiuto, Piera Degli Esposti, Paolo Graziosi, Giulio Bosetti, Michele Placido, Carlo Buccirosso, Fanny Ardant, Flavio Bucci
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Cannes Film Festival Updated Competition Lineup / ‘Blindness’ opener and ‘What Just Happened?’ closer – confirmed
Fernando Meirelles‘ Blindness will open the Cannes Film Festival and will join the Competition line-up, it was confirmed today.
The film, about a city hit with a plague causing most of the population to go blind, was adapted by Don McKellar from the novel by Jose Saramago.
The cast is led by Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Danny Glover and Gael Garcia Bernal.
Last week, when the official line up was announced, many industry observers questioned why ‘Blindness’ had not been included.
Cannes has added two other titles to the Competition:
- Laurent Cantet’s ‘Entre Les Murs‘, based on the book by Francois Begaudeau, is the third French film in competition promised by Fremaux last Wednesday,
-James Gray’s ‘Two Lovers‘, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Gwyneth Paltrow.
‘Two Lovers’ is NYC romantic drama toplines Joaquin Phoenix as an aspiring photographer and Gwyneth Paltrow as the attractive girl next door.
The main competition jury has added two members – French actress Jeanne Balibar (“Va savoir”) and Iranian author-director Marjane Satrapi – under the presidency of Sean Penn.
Satrapi took the Jury Prize at Cannes last year for her ‘Persepolis‘.
Finally, the festival announced that Barry Levinson’s ‘What Just Happened?‘ will be the event’s closing night film.
Updated competition line-up (22 films)
Laurent Cantet – Entre Les Murs (France)
Nuri Bilge Ceylan – Three Monkeys (Turkey-France-Italy)
Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne – Le Silence De Lorna (Belgium-France-Italy-Germany)
Arnaud Desplechin – A Christmas Story (France)
Clint Eastwood – Changeling (US)
Atom Egoyan – Adoration (Canada)
Ari Folman – Waltz With Bashir ( Israel-France-Germany )
Philippe Garrel – La Frontiere De L’Aube ( France )
Matteo Garrone – Gomorra ( Italy )
James Gray – Two Lovers (US)
Charlie Kaufman – Synecdoche, New York (US)
Eric Khoo – My Magic (Singapore)
Lucretia Martel – La Mujer Sin Cabeza (Argentina-Spain)
Brillante Mendoza – Serbis (The Philippines)
Fernando Meirelles – Blindness (Brazil)
Kornel Mondruczo – Delta (Hungary-Germany)
Walter Salles & Daniela Thomas – Linha De Passe (Brazil)
Paolo Sorrentino – Il Divo (Italy)
Pablo Trapero – Leonera (Argentina-South Korea)
Wim Wenders – The Palermo Shooting (Germany-Italy)
Jia Zhangke – 24 City (China )
Steven Soderbergh – Che (US-Spain-France)
‘Blindness’ Cannes Film Festival Opener?
Fernando Meirelles’ drama-thriller about a city succumbing to a blindness epidemic.
‘Blindness‘ stars Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo is being eyed to open the Cannes Film Festival, while ‘Hunger,’ from Brit director Steve McQueen, is the leading candidate to kick off Un Certain Regard.
The source of many press reports identify ‘Blindness’ as the May 14 Cannes opener.
According to Variety, Cannes declined to comment on the rumors regarding ‘Blindness.’
More than one option Meirelles’ pic was one of the most glaring absences from the Official Selection lineup unveiled by delegate general Thierry Fremaux last Wednesday.
Fremaux’s announcement left both opening and closing film slots open.
Steve McQueen’s ‘Hunger’ appears clearer.
McQueen’s feature debut is strongly expected to open Un Certain Regard.
Reportedly powerful, but very out-there, ‘Hunger’ is an impressionistic interpretation of the last six weeks in the life of Bobby Sands, the IRA hunger striker who died in the Maze prison in 1981.
Cannes Film Festival – 40th Directors’ Fortnight
The Cannes Film Festival’s 40th Directors’ Fortnight, announced Friday in Paris.
Twelve of the 22 films are either French pics or co-productions.
There is also a good showing from Spain and Latin America, with five films. Just one U.S. pic will be presented at the Directors’ Fortnight, “The Pleasure of Being Robbed,” which closes the section.
Like the Official Selection and Critics’ Week, the section focuses on rising talent, with a particular emphasis on European filmmaking.
Directors’ Fortnight opens with “Four Nights With Anna,” the return to filmmaking of celebrated Polish auteur Jerzy Skolimowski.
International rights on the film, Skolimowski’s first since 1991’s “30 Door Key,” have been taken by Paris-based sales company Elle Driver.
“Four Nights With Anna” chronicles one man’s voyeuristic relationship with a woman.
Shot in Poland, “Anna” stars Polish thesps Kinga Preis and Artur Steranko. Pic is produced by Paolo Branco and Skolimowski.
Since 1991, Skolimowski has dedicated his time to painting and acting, appearing as Uncle Stepan in David Cronenberg’s “Eastern Promises.”
The section bows May 15, one day after the main festival, and runs through May 25.
DIRECTORS’ FORTNIGHT
“Four Nights With Anna,” France-Poland, Jerzy Skolimowski (opener)
“The Pleasure of Being Robbed,” U.S., Josh Safdie (closer)
“Acne,” Uruguay-Spain-Argentina-Mexico, Federico Veiroj
“Aquele querido mes de agosto,” Portugal-France, Miguel Gomes
“Boogie,” Romania, Radu Muntean
“Les Bureaux de Dieu,” France, Claire Simon
“El Cant dels ocells,” Spain, Albert Serra
“De la guerre,” France, Bertrand Bonello
“Le Dernier Maquis,” France-Algeria, Rabah Ameur-Zaimeche
“Eldorado,” Belgium-France, Bouli Lanners
“Eleve libre,” Belgium-France, Joachim Lafosse
“Liverpool,” Argentina-France-Netherlands-Spain-Germany, Lisandro Alonso
“Monsieur Morimoto,” France, Nicola Sornaga
“Knitting,” China, Yin Lichuan
“Now Showing,” Philippines-France, Raya Martin
“Il Resto della notte,” Italy, Francesco Munzi
“Salamandra,” Argentina-France-Germany, Pablo Aguero
“Shultes,” Russia, Bakur Bakuradze
“Blind Loves,” Slovakia, Juraj Lehotsky
“Lonely Tune of Tehran,” Iran, Saman Salour
“Tony Manero,” Chile-Brazil, Pablo Larrain
“Le Voyage aux Pyrenees,” France, Jean-Marie Larrieu, Arnaud Larrieu
Atom Egoyan’s ‘Adoration’ In Competition – Cannes Film Festival
Atom Egoyan’s Adoration, accepted for this year’s Cannes Film Festival, is a return to the more intimate, lower-budget kind of films he made in the past.
It marks a scaling back from his 2005 effort, ‘Where the Truth Lies‘, because it’s a very different kind of story, Egoyan told CBC Radio’s Q cultural affairs show.
“Where the Truth Lies is a lavish production that needed a much bigger budget to tell that particular story and it’s about an American celebrity. This is about a Canadian high school in Toronto and it’s very much set in locations people in this city will recognize,” Egoyan said in an interview from Toronto.
The Canadian director, whose Cannes track record includes films such as ‘The Sweet Hereafter‘, ‘Exotica‘ and ‘Ararat‘, was thrilled Wednesday after hearing ‘Adoration’ had been accepted.
“Its always an honour. It’s a really tough list to make,” he said.
“It’s an important step for me because it’s an important film for me. It’s a film that can only be made in this country right now. Unlike other movies which are funded in a byzantine, strange way, it’s very much part of this particular system. It’s a film that is really taking a number of risks and I’m really proud of it.”
