Cannes in Full Swing with ‘Blindness’
The Festival de Cannes is in full swing, and tonight the crowd checked out the world premiere of Fernando Meirelles’ “Blindness” (Mark Ruffalo and Julianne Moore pictured).
Based on a novel by Nobel Prize winner Jose Saramago, the thriller follows an unnamed city struck by a mysterious plague of blindness. A doctor’s wife becomes the only person with the ability to see, but she feigns illness in order to take care of her husband, as her surrounding community breaks down into chaos and disorder.
The film’s stars — Julianne Moore, Danny Glover and Gael Garcia Bernal — walked the red carpet prior to the film. Cate Blanchett, Eva Longoria and Faye Dunaway also strolled the carpet in traditional Hollywood glam.
More Cannes after the jump, including a ‘Blindness’ trailer…
The opening ceremony featured French funnyman Edouard Baer, who made ‘em laugh with references to Dany Boon’s box office hit “Welcome to the Land of the ‘Shtis,” telling the crowd in a thick French accent: “My heart is full of love and emotion.”
The trimmed festival includes fewer films than usual, reports The Hollywood Reporter, and the opening-night festivities were subdued compared to last year’s 60th anniversary gala. The ceremony featured the Sean Penn-led jury — Israeli/American actress Natalie Portman (pictured), Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron, French director Rachid Bouchareb, German actress Alexandra Maria Lara, Italian actor-director Sergio Castellitto, Iranian director Marjane Satrapi, French actress Jeanne Balibar and Thai helmer Apichatpong Weerasethaku — who took their seats onstage in the Palais theater.
Penn talked about his vision for this year’s fest: “We’re going to be sending love letters to some movies. Those who don’t get them, don’t be discouraged,” Penn said, adding, “I’m making a plea to those distributors who don’t get awards: Stand behind your films as you are now. We’re going to do our best.”
A montage of Penn’s career was accompanied by live music from 1960s rock-folk star Richie Havens (whom we just saw in concert a few days ago here in Traverse City, Michigan!). Gallic director Claude Lanzmann then headed into the spotlight to declare the 61st Festival officially open.
After the screening of “Blindness,” guests headed to the Carlton Hotel for an official dinner presided by French Cultural Minister Christine Albanel and festival president Gilles Jacob.
“Blindness” Trailer:
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
Image: Blindness, Miramax Films, 2008; Festival de Cannes, Newscom.com, 2008
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POSTED IN: Celebrity Pictures, Clips & Movie Trailers, Distribution, Film Festivals, Film Genres, Film Industry, Mystery, Personalities, Posters & Production Stills, Premiere Dates, Thriller
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