The stars are out as Cannes set to shine
Print Edition
WITH almost enough star wattage to forget the grim anti-terror measures in place, the Cannes film festival opened yesterday with Woody Allen’s nostalgic comedy “Cafe Society” starring Kristen Stewart.
On the red carpet were some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, such as Julia Roberts, Jodie Foster, Sean Penn, Robert De Niro, Charlize Theron and George Clooney, as the French Riviera town became the film capital of the world for the next 12 days.
The event has heaped pressure on French authorities already on high alert six months after terror attacks left 130 dead in Paris.
But 80-year-old Allen’s opening film is a eulogy to supposedly less fearful times, a love story that flits between 1930s Hollywood and bohemian New York where gangsters, millionaires and ambitious women rub shoulders to a trad jazz soundtrack.
Before his film premiered, the Hollywood veteran admitted that the terror threat was playing on his mind. “I’m hypochondriacal when it comes to terrorism,” Allen told Variety, “the world’s biggest worrywart.”
Hundreds of extra police officers have been deployed, with daily bomb sweeps of the main venue — the Palais des Festivals — and long queues at checks to get inside.
But the authorities have vowed security will not dampen the jamboree that lures celebrities and film industry schmoozers to Cannes.
Festival director Thierry Fremaux told reporters that despite the terror threat which prompted the French interior minister to visit the town on Monday, this would be a “normal year I dare to say,” and that it was important that Cannes “is there to defend (global) cinema.”
This year is one of the most star-studded in recent times, and “Twilight” megastar turned indie darling Stewart as well as Blake Lively and Steve Carell were among those appearing on the red carpet for the “Cafe Society” premiere.
Allen narrates the movie — his 46th — which he describes as “like reading a novel on my life” with actor Jesse Eisenberg, of “The Social Network” fame, playing the Allen character.
“If I was Jesse’s age I would have played myself, but I wouldn’t have played it as well,” Allen told reporters.
The film is one of five backed by Amazon at Cannes, a sign of a shift in the cinema industry which is increasingly opening up to subscription services.
Nearly 90 feature films from all over the world will be shown in this year’s official selection.
These include 21 which are in the running for the Palme d’Or main prize.
Steven Spielberg will roll out his blockbuster version of Roald Dahl’s “The BFG” at the weekend, although it is not in competition for the top award.
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