The Cannes Film Festival is held each year in beautiful Cannes, France, introducing new films from directors and genres around the world. This year's Cannes Film Festival might have come and passed, but it left audiences with plenty of great films to mull over. The highlights of the 2013 Cannes Film Festival include diverse films from every genre and every corner of the world, ensuring there's something for everyone to enjoy.
The film that took the festival's top award, Palme d'Or, was "Blue Is the Warmest Color," a lengthy film about a lesbian couple living in France. The film is particularly noticeable as it was screened right after France passed a controversial decision to allow gay marriage. "Blue Is the Warmest Color" was directed by Abdellatif Kechiche, and the film is already making waves internationally for its sweet storyline and political timing. The film's leading ladies, Adele Exarchopoulos and Lea Seydoux, also walked away with the Cannes Festival's top prize for acting.
Bruce Dern won the award for Best Actor for his role "Nebraska," directed by Alexander Payne. "Nebraska" follows the story of an elderly man with dementia who keeps attempting to escape his home because he thinks he's won a prize in a major sweepstakes. His children must attempt to return him safely to his home while dealing with the reality of their father's mental decline. "Nebraska" was a notable film at the festival due to its down-to-earth storytelling and setting. The film probed into what life is like on the American plains as well as the nature of dementia and its effect on modern families. "Nebraska" is filmed entirely in black and white, lending it a unique atmosphere that complements the dark themes of the film.
"All Is Lost" is an action film starring Robert Redford in a solitary role as a man adrift at sea. His boat begins to sink, and the remainder of the film follows his attempts to repair the boat and keep himself from drowning in a variety of innovative ways. "All Is Lost" is arguably one of the most notable films to be produced by director J.C. Chandor, known for his movies about life at sea and the human condition.
Kore-Eda Hirokazu also made waves at the festival with his film "Like Father, Like Son," a story about a young Japanese couple that discovers their beloved son was mixed up at birth. Ryota, the film's protagonist, is a hard-working man who has an idyllic life with his beloved wife and a perfect six-year-old son named Keita. He and his wife are blindsided when the hospital informs him that there was a mix-up on the day of Keita's birth, and Keita isn't their biological son. Ryota and his wife must choose whether they want to keep the son they've loved and raised as their own, or sacrifice six years of parenting to find their biological son. The bounds of love are tested, and Hirokazu deeply examines what it means to be a father. The heartbreaking struggle of the young couple to choose between two children they instinctively love deeply is incredibly relatable and makes "Like Father, Like Son" one of the most notable films of this year's Cannes Festival.
"The Past" is a French and Italian film by director by director Asghar Farhadi. The film follows a young man named Ahmad who visits his estranged wife, Marie, in Paris after an extended stay in Tehran. Upon his return, he discovers his wife is experiencing severe problems in her relationship with her young daughter, Lucie. Even though the couple is in the midst of divorce procedures, Ahmad decides to try to help Marie and Lucie repair their mother-daughter relationship while he's there. The film gives a unique look into a blended family, covering the nature of divorce, parenting, and moving on. Ahmad's character is relatable, and the relatively short film moves at a steady pace before reaching an unexpected climax that's sure to surprise the audience.
The 2013 Cannes Film Festival was full of unique and controversial films that make viewers think about life, circumstance, and their own beliefs. There were plenty of newcomer actors and actresses as well as familiar directors, adding a great amount of diversity to the festival. From familiar actors like Robert Redford to the impressive and candid performances of newcomers, such as Adele Exarchopoulos in "Blue Is the Warmest Color," the 2013 Cannes Film Festival is one of the most memorable yet.
Author Source: Zack_Mandell
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