Oh sob. South African story “Life, Above All” may have had a 10-minute ovation when it was first screened in Cannes, but it hasn’t won the top prize in its section. Instead, a film called “Ha Ha Ha” – by South Korean director Hong Sang-soo – took that honour at the ceremony tonight. Both films […]
Can’t Get No Satisfaction? Well…
SPRINTED over to the “Stones in Exile” special screening and press conference this afternoon. It was mayhem. Packed crowds spilling onto the Croisette to get a glimpse of Mick Jagger. Journalists queuing for over two hours simply to get a seat. I managed to just get in. And everyone behind me in the queue was […]
Day 8
Had three great interviews this morning with the cast of “Life, Above All” – although I got horribly lost trying to find them and my tape recorder switched itself off halfway through. These things happen. I once taped a brilliant interview with Keanu Reeves except no sound was recorded. Anyway, more later…
South Africans, Above All
Oh man, still sobbing. South African director Oliver Schmitz and his amazing cast of actors had a Cannes auditorium moved to tears – and to a standing ovation – this morning. It was one of those special moments that makes Cannes, and film-making, so worthwhile. The emotionally-charged movie was “Life, Above All”. And as I […]
South Africa’s Winnie heats up Cannes
The hottest ticket in Cannes this past weekend has been anything to do with “Winnie”, the forthcoming film about Winnie Mandela. The film’s Hollywood stars Jennifer Hudson and Terrence Howard were in town to promote it. So too were its South African director Darrell Roodt and producer Andre Pieterse. And in the whirl of cocktail […]
Fat Lips and Jock of the Bushveld
Everyday I stumble across another South African movie. Today I was flipping through an animation magazine and discovered that a 3-D CG-animated movie is being made of the old South African classic, “Jock of the Bushveld”! (Just to digress – word in Cannes is that 3-D movies are here for keeps. Argh! Can’t bear the […]
Woody in the Morning
I almost chose to sleep in rather than attend today’s morning movie, but it was Woody Allen’s latest offering so I forced myself up. Great move! And a great movie. One of those that even non-Woody fans should enjoy. As he himself said afterwards, he hired someone else to do the narrator’s voice because “it […]
Money Never Sleeps…and nor does Cannes
Whew. I’m exhausted. Was up before 7am to make sure I got into this morning’s movie – “Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps”. Bumped into a few party stragglers on the way over to the Palais. They were heading home, dressed in shabby 3-piece suits after a night of partying. A Norwegian journo in Cannes […]
Looking for South Africa
Oh yay! Happy day! The Film Festival press office called this morning to say they’ve upgraded my (horrible) yellow card to a blue card! Yay! No more feeling blue, now that I’ve got the blue! I know it’s not pink. But at least it’s not yellow. Slowly clawing my way back up this card ladder. […]
Day Zero at the Cannes Film Festival
Oh my nerves. Day Zero of the Festival and I feel like no-Cannes-do. I raced through to Cannes today to get everything in order before the Festival officially begins tomorrow. So today’s the day all the journos hit town. Pick up our press passes. Our shiny new Cannes 2010 bags. Get our schedules sorted. Our […]