Book Review - Cannes Film Festival
September 4th 2007 00:54
This history of the Cannes Film Festival is an insightful treasure of intrigue on several levels; not least the process of decision making and cultural affairs forever entangled in political circumstance.
Kieron Corless and Chris Darke source insiders including Mike Leigh, Pierre Rissient and Jean-Gabriel Albicocco to trace the festival’s sixty year journey; navigating the Cold War, post-colonial struggles for national independence, the switched on 1960’s, the Battle of Algiers, Brigitte Bardot in a bikini and so much more.
A source and resonator of so much celebrity, glamor, nationalism, struggles against censorship, grandstanding and gossip, the Cannes Film Festival is iconic and important in the way we consider films; this book provides an enjoyable resource laden narrative for anyone interested in world cinema.
Largely forgotten Philippines film-maker Lino Brocka who died fifteen years ago is noted which is of interest as is the contemporary discovery of Samira Makhmalbaf while anecdotes about the social awkwardness that arose during that notorious period when The House Un-American Activities Committee blacklisted film-makers, writers and actors are priceless.
The greatest strength of the book is the balanced perspective it appears to keep along with some much esteemed company.
David Jobling
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