As of Late

The past several days have been a complete blur. Keeping busy and having a great time really does make you lose track of time! Since my last post, I've seen quite a few films, a few celebrities and lots more in between. Let's go day by day:

-Saturday May 14: Nighttime 

Saturday night was spent out on the town in Cannes. After I got off the train from Juan-les-Pins, I took a walk up to the castle that overlooks the entire city. It was such a gorgeous view! 

After this, I walked around the streets surrounding the castle (which is now a venue and a museum) that were what I expected European streets to look like. They were narrow, filled with cafes and houses, and very steep. It was the Europe I've always seen in the movies. Pretty hungry, I then went to grab a bite by the beach where they were just finishing the screening of a Fellini film. I walked on the beach some and saw a woman recording her dog walking around in the sand on her phone for a good 10 minutes. Bootsie was having her close-up. The American pavilion was having another party that night, so I went to it next. There was music and dancing, and I didn't end up getting to sleep until 5am. When in Cannes...

-Sunday May 15

Sunday was my day to catch up on sleep. I didn't wake up until 2:30 in the afternoon, and settled for the fact that I wasn't going to see many movies that day. I took the train into Cannes soon after I got up, and met up with some people to watch, get ready for it, 3D Sex and Zen: Extreme Ecstasy. It was as ridiculous as it sounds, and I got up to leave 30 minutes into the movie.

After lounging at the American pavilion for a spell, I then came back to JLP to change for the premiere of Sean Durkin's Martha Marcy May Marlene. On the way back into Cannes, there was a train attendant on board and I hadn't bought a ticket (as I never do, and no one else does either). I quickly darted to the bathroom and spent the 10 minute ride in hiding.


Once at the Debussy theater, I joined the line with the other students and marched on in to the premiere. Elizabeth Olsen, Mary Kate and Ashley's younger sister, is the star of this film and gave a great performance. The film is about a girl who leaves a cult and struggles with the repercussions and memories of what she went through there as she comes back to the real world. It was an excellent film, and the director and actors were at the premiere! Below are Elizabeth Olsen and Brady Corbet applauding after the screening.

-Monday May 16

Monday brought yet another great screening--this time, it was The Kid with a Bike, a French film by Jean Pierre Dardenne starring Cecile De France. It's about a young boy who struggles with rejection from his father, played by Thomas Doret. It was a beautiful film and I really enjoyed it. I watched the film in one of my favorite theaters at the festival, the Salle du 60. It's on top of the Riviera building near the international pavilions and seats 400 people. The press conferences are held directly next to this theater, so in a few screenings I've heard the press being rather rowdy when a celebrity was being interviewed. I was probably next door to Brad Pitt!

The next part of the day was spent listening to female Iranian director named Marjan. It was such an interesting perspective to hear from: she emphasized what a huge influence the government has on film making in Iran, and that expression is more or less controlled. Not just any film may be shown at the festival, the government decides, and she told us that while at the festival she had to wear her hijab (even though she doesn't wish to). It was great to hear from not only a female director, but from a director of a very different culture. 

Here's I am at the top of the hotel where we've heard from several speakers. The view is beautiful!

 

A big part of the Cannes experience at the festival is begging for tickets. I thought that there would be no night more important for this than the Tree of Life premiere. I held up my sign for about an hour and a half with no luck, which left me pretty disappointed since the film was at the top of my list of ones I wanted to see--I have been drooling over the trailer for months and months. However, I settled for the fact that I would have to catch it later (besides, it got booed and people walked out of the screenings). As I was walking to meet up with people, I passed a woman doing portraits. I stopped, had one done, and ended up with a pretty great souvenir. 

 

After I had accepted defeat, I figured it was time to stuff my face--with delicious pizza. I went to one of my favorite restaurants so far in Cannes called Cafe Roma. Even though the waitress got my order wrong, walked away when I told her and didn't apologize, it still hit the spot.

It's time for bed here, so I will post more tomorrow!