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‘Ribbon’ takes the prize at Cannes
CANNES, France - Michael Haneke’s “The White Ribbon,” a searing look at pre-World War I life in a small German town just before World War I, won the Palme d’Or, the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival, on Sunday.
Haneke, who was born in Germany and lives in Austria, dissected the emotional and physical abuse of children who eventually grew up to be part of the Third Reich.
“The White Ribbon” was a critical favorite, as was the winner of the Grand Prix, Jacques Audiard’s “A Prophet.” The French movie detailed the transformation of a small-time crook into a major gangster during his six-year prison stay.
Charlotte Gainsbourg won best actress for the highly controversial “Antichrist,” directed by Lars Von Trier and accused of being misogynistic by some critics. It’s an erotic nightmare from the Danish director and includes a scene of genital mutilation.
Best actor went to Christoph Waltz, the persnickety Nazi linguist in Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglourious Basterds.” It was a career-making role for the little-known Austrian star, and he thanked Tarantino, saying he “gave me my vocation back.”
Alain Resnais, the legendary French director, won a special jury prize for his lifetime achievement and his new movie, “Wild Grass.”
Two critical favorites were shut out of the awards: “Looking for Eric,” the heart-warming Ken Loach tale of a British postman who’s inspired to get his life back by former soccer star Eric Cantona; and “Bright Star,” the love story between poet John Keats and a seamstress, directed by Jane Campion of New Zealand.
Other winners:
Best director, Brillante Mendoza for the critically reviled “Kinatay,” featuring the rape and dismemberment of a female hostage. Roger Ebert said it was worse than “The Brown Bunny,” which he has long considered to be the worst film ever in competition.
Best screenplay: Mei Feng for “Spring Fever,” directed by Lou Ye of China
Jury prize: “Fish Tank” by Andrea Arnold of Britain and “Thirst” by Park Chan-Wook of South Korea
Best short film: “Arena,” directed by Joao Salaviza of Portugal
Camera d’Or, for best first film: “Samson and Delilah,” directed by Warwick Thornton of Australia.
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