6 French films are on show on the Croisette today.
"Ararat" by Atom Egoyan (Grand Théâtre Lumière, 8.30 a.m. and 7.15 p.m.)
A regular visitor to the Festival (with 5 films previously in Official Competition), Atom Egoyan returns to the Croisette with "Ararat," which deals with the Armenian genocide. On the request of the director, the film is being presented out of competition. This Canadian film was co-produced by ARP Selection.
"Ten" by Abbas Kiarostami will be presented today at the Grand Théâtre Lumière 2.30 p.m.
The eleventh feature by the celebrated Iranian director, who received the Palme d'Or in 1996 for "Ta'm e guilass" ("Taste of Cherry") and the Grand Jury Special Prize at Venice in 1999 for "The Wind Will Carry Us," presents ten sequences from the emotional lives of six women. The film was produced by MK2, who are also handling international sales.
Un Certain Regard:
"Heremakono" ("Waiting for Happiness") by Abderrahmane Sissako is to be screened at the Théâtre Claude Debussy at 11 a.m. and 4.30 p.m.
The latest film by this Mauritanian filmmaker was produced by Duo Films and Arte, distributed locally by Haut et Court, and abroad by Celluloid Dreams.
"Madame Satâ" by Karim Aïnouz, Théâtre Claude Debussy at 2 p.m. and 10 p.m.
"Madame Satâ" is based on the life of Joao Fransisco de Santos (Madame Satâ), a colored man from Lapa. Measuring 1.78 meters and weighing 88 kg of muscle, he combines the roles of transvestite, cook, fighter, hero, jailbird and adoptive father to seven children... This film by the Brazilian director was co-produced by Dominant 7 Productions, and is distributed by Mars Films, with foreign sales handled by Wild Bunch.
Critics' Week:
"Respiro" by Emanuele Crialese is to be presented at 11 a.m., 5.30 p.m. and 10.30 p.m. at the Espace Miramar.
"Respiro," the second feature by Italian filmmaker Emanuele Crialese ("Once We Were Strangers," 1999), is a Franco-Italian co-production (Fandango Films and Les Films de la Tournelle); international sales are handled by Roissy Films.
Directors' Fortnight:
The Franco-Chad film "Abouna" is to be showcased at the Directors' Fortnight today at 11.30 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Noga Hilton.
"Abouna" is the second feature by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, whose first film, "Bye Bye Africa," was selected and honored with awards at numerous international festivals. The film, which has already been highly acclaimed, was produced by Duo Films, with distribution and international sales handled by MK2.
And finally, a restored print of "Max and the Junkmen" (1971) by Claude Sautet will be presented at the Salle Bunuel at 3 p.m.!
Cannes: films of the day
