Cannes Update

Two more films in competition were shown today. One of them, Zodiac, had already played in the US and I saw it when it was in theaters. I haven't read much about the reaction to the film but I think it was positive. It got good reviews in the States. I thought that it was pretty good but overrated. My review appears on this blog if anyone wants to read it.

The other film that screened today is entitled Four Months, Three Weeks & Two Days. It is a Romanian film directed by Christian Mungiu and stars Anamaria Marinca. It is about how hard it was to get an abortion in Romania during the final days of the Soviet Bloc. The film got very good reviews as did Marinca. Some people have commented that it is the frontrunner for the Palm D'or and Best Actress awards. While it is way too early to tell it certainly has more of a chance to win the big prize than either Zodiac or My Blueberry Nights.

Screening out of competition was The Flight of the Red Balloon (Le Voyage Du Balloon Rouge) which is based on a 1956 short film entitled The Red Balloon. The film is directed by Hou Hsiao Hasien. It stars Juliette Binoche as a mother who works too much and doesn't pay enough attention to her young son. He spends more time with his nanny. The film deals with the alienation and loneliness that many of us face today. The film got some favorable reviews. And while I am not a fan of everything that Hou has made I look forward to seeing this film as it sounds like it is up my alley.