Cannes Sketches: “Vampire bite on a red carpet”

 May 22, 2012 - 19:26 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - There are so many things to wonder about at Cannes Film Festival. To name a few: why would an event of this scale need “Madagascar” - which looked no more than a meaningless commercial; how come American rapper P Diddy who arrived at a “European hangout” had fans even here, and how did French writer Frédéric Beigbeder find himself DJing at a Martini party.

Another person as quick to catch your eye as a commercial was Jessica Chastain. For truth’s sake, I must note that Jessica is a good-natured lady, whom a star fever has (so far) passed by. Nevertheless, Jessica was everywhere: on every red carpet, at every party, at “Madagascar” and “Lawless” at the same time.

Another actor, Shia LaBeouf, however, made a great transition form “Transformer” mainstream to “Lawless”, with his acting on par with the star-studded line-up, including Gary Oldman who, unfortunately didn’t make it to Cannes.

Remember, how kids of the 90s were enthused over Jackie Chan’s TV-aired films, followed by footage of the actor’s death-defying stunts? At Cannes, my beautiful childhood memories were overridden with the new stunt-stuffed “Chinese Zodiac and the actor blowing kisses, giving out-of-place smiles.. The real Jackie Chan stayed in the TV of 90s.

Argento family, which unveiled Dracula 3D at the festival was quite impressive. Dario Argento looks so much like his characters, you wouldn’t want to stumble upon him even on the lightest of nights. His daughter, Asia, was quite pleasing to look at, however, everyone who saw Dracula said it to be a horror-inducing flick.

Michael Haneke's new film “Amour”(Love) became a favorite at the festival. Haneke’s meticulous look at an octogenarian man and the wife he is slowly losing to the after-effects of a stroke (the French-language film is referred to as "Love" in English) scored raves from critics as well as a warmly enthusiastic reaction from the public when it premiered Sunday, May 20.

Octogenarians Emmanuelle Riva and Jean-Luis Trintignant, more slow-footed than they once were, were pacing along the red carpet, genuinely enjoying every bit of attention. Emmanuelle Riva was close to tears, when asked for an autograph. Whatever the fate of this film after the festival, Haneke created a beautiful and thought-inducing story, giving the senior actors a chance to show their mastery, perhaps for the last time.

Meanwhile, it sill feels cols at rain-soaked Cannes. Hope to receive better news of weather tomorrow, as for film news, it won’t keep us waiting.