Franco-Polish film director Roman Polanski scooped the highest accolade of the Cannes Film Festival, the prestigious Palme d’Or, for his latest film The Pianist at a glittering closing ceremony on Sunday which saw British hopes dashed.
The Pianist – a harrowing tale of one man’s survival in the Warsaw ghetto during World War II – beat off 21 films by such illustrious names as Mike Leigh and Michael Winterbottom to win the top prize. It has been interpreted as a very personal film for Polanski, who survived the Krakow ghetto but lost his mother in a Nazi death camp. The cast includes British actors Maureen Lipman, Frank Finlay and Emilia Fox, as well as American Adrien Brody in the lead role.
“I am honoured and moved to receive this prestigious prize for a film which represents Poland,” said the clearly elated director as he collected his prize.
The Grand Prix prize, which is usually awarded to films that display originality and research, went to the Finnish entry The Man Without A Past, which also scooped the Best Actress gong for Kati Outinen. The Best Actor award went to Belgium’s Oliver Gourmet for Le Fils. The winning actors, both largely unknown outside their home countries, beat off strong competition from such heavyweight names as Jack Nicholson, Ralph Fiennes, and Miranda Richardson.
Of the three British films in competition there was only one official winner - Paul Laverty for his screenplay to Ken Loach’s Sweet Sixteen. British actress Emily Watson, who lost out in the race for the Best Actress gong, was honoured with a special award for her “outstanding achievement” in acting.
Palestinian filmmaker Elia Suleiman picked up the jury prize, which is a mark of special recognition, for Divine Intervention, a surreal comedy set against the backdrop of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
The 2002 Festival jury was headed by David Lynch and included such luminaries as Sharon Stone. Sunday’s closing party signals the end of eleven days of furious film networking meetings. But Cannes has always been better known for its glamour and this year’s event was no exception. Among those who turned out were Leonardo di Caprio, Cameron Diaz, Elizabeth Taylor and Woody Allen.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
