Hello to all Women in Hollywood readers! This is the first time I have written for the blog, and I’m very grateful to Melissa for the opportunity.
Today I returned from the beautiful French Riviera. I am an actress from England, and have been at Cannes Film Festival promoting two films, Philip Pullman’s The Butterfly Tattoo, which screened on the first day of the festival, and Schrodinger’s Girl, which was in the Film Market. Schrodinger’s Girl is a sci-fi action adventure and, you’ll be happy to know, features three strong, pro-active lead characters, all of whom are women.
With this in mind I was excited to see what else was available in the Market and in Competition by and starring women. With the hustle bustle, hard work and constant partying that is Cannes, there is often little chance to catch screenings(!), but here is the rundown of my favourites from the festival:
Ones To Watch Out For
Le Pere de Mes Enfants directed by talented young director/writer/actress Mia Hansen-Love, and joint recipient of the ‘Prix Special Un Certain Regard’ award this year at Cannes. The story centres around Gregoire Canvel, whose seemingly perfect life is …well, not perfect. I’m not going to give it away – go see it for yourself. It is a subtly beautiful, touching, and human film, about a film producer, his passion, and his family. Hansen-Love both wrote the screenplay and directs, so watch it as an entrée to the rest of her small but perfectly formed collection, which includes Tout Est Pardonné, and Apres Mure Réflexion.
Pedro Almodovar’s beautiful and passionate Los Abrazos Rotos (Broken Embraces) starring Oscar-winner Penelope Cruz. This film was one of the twenty films selected for Cannes’ Official Selection this year and comes from the director who brought us BAFTA-wining Volver, a film in which the only two male characters who appeared either died or disappeared again very quickly. Cruz has been rated as ‘tragic, beautiful and enchanting’, and whilst some may wonder if the edge in Almodovar’s films is disappearing as they continue to become more and more commercial, in ways he only gets better: superb production values; tight and passionate storytelling. And yes, increased popularity – for what good is art and its message if it is communicated only to a few?
Bright Star by Jane Campion, one of only three women ever nominated for an Academy Award. This film was in the Official Selection also, and is being hotly tipped as the Palme D’Or winner, which would give Campion a pair of trophies, having taken home the prestigious award in 1993 for The Piano. This film has lots to offer, being a very interesting biopic of the young Keats; a romance (between Keats and neighbour Fanny Brawn); and, most importantly, a sounding board for young talents Abbie Cornish and Ben Whishaw. It is important to watch Cornish’s entire collection to see what an excellent chameleon she can be, because this film, although excellent, does not showcase her talents completely. However, I’m extremely pleased for Whishaw. I first saw him in 2004 playing Hamlet onstage in London, and he was obviously an extraordinary talent. I’m sad that it has taken this long for people at large to really hear about him, but this film should do the trick, so to speak, and it is a testament to Campion that she cast the film so intelligently, with real talents, as opposed to names.
Fish Tank, directed by Andrea Arnold, winner of the Best Newcomer BAFTA for her first feature film Red Road, was also in the Official Selection this year. A simple but riveting film about 15 year old Mia, whose life is turned upside down when her Mum brings home a new boyfriend. This is a very British film in setting and characters and makes no apologies for this. It is set in a council flat, where Mia lives with her alcoholic mother and irritating little sister, and follows this trio of women very literally, Arnold utilizes hand held techniques reminiscent of Twilight director Catherine Hardwicke’s first film Thirteen.
Each year Cannes has a category, named Cinefondation, for film school students’ short and feature-length films, and this year the winner of the 1st prize was Baba. This psychological drama was directed by Czech student Zuzana Kirchnerova-Spidlova, and tells the story of a dying woman and her granddaughter, who unwillingly looks after her. Promisingly, three of the top four prizes in this category went to women, prompting British Director John Boorman, head of the Cinefondation 2009 jury, to state: ‘It seems the future of films is in the hands of women’.
I am happy to note that independent Brit Flicks were also on form in the ‘very best of women on film’ category (just created by me…), so here is my pick of our homegrown bunch:
31 North 62 East, directed by Tristan Loraine. Showing ambition, a promising director and an excellent cast, this film is a psychological thriller, about a corrupt British PM who gives up the position of an SAS unit to make sure an £80 billion arms deal goes through. Three of four leading roles are women, and they each deliver strong performances, played by Heather Peace (dual-roles) and Sarah Webber. The film also showcases stunning cinematography, some brilliant one liners (a favourite of mine, to terrorists holding a hostage in the desert: ‘Be quick. I didn’t bring any sun tan’), and an ambitious and intelligent plot.
Schrodinger’s Girl, directed by Huw Bowen. I had to mention it. Bias aside, when I read the script for this film I was delighted to note that all three of the three female leads are strong, intelligent and courageous characters. For feminist fans of sci-fi, it’s a must-see, and is also notable for the brilliant job Bowen & co. have made with special effects (the film is set between three worlds, and the space between, with our characters often jumping from one to the other). The story centres on the theme of alternate realities, a theme recently explored by the new Star Trek.
Qui es tu? (Who are you?), a short film written and directed by Chloe Jenden, and starring Brit actress Harriet Collings. The film is set in France, during the second world war, where a English girl finds herself working for the Resistance, charged with the task of seducing French Collaborator André Deufreine. I’m a real french film lover and I think this was a great homage to French cinema. Beautiful cinematography, very poignant and measured performances, absolutely spot on production design, great sets, even down to the smallest details. Collings and Jenden produced the short themselves. It is looking to be developed into a feature and in my opinion, deserves to be. Watch it here.
Looking forward to next year…
Abigail can be seen in Philip Pullman’s The Butterfly Tattoo, pre-order now here.
Abigail, your performance in ‘Schrodingers girl’ was nothing short of amazing! You are certainly one to watch out for!
I whole heartedly agree with your comments on ‘Los Abrazos Rotos’. I too was worried that the film would lose the magic we usually see in Almodovar’s work but i was not at all dissapointed!
Abigail i hope to hear more from you in future blogs and in upcoming films!
Jennifer
An excellent review! I really hope I can get hold of all the films afore mentioned because you make them sound so enticing; not overly explained so they can still be thoroughly enjoyed upon personal viewing.
Schrodingers girl’ and ‘The Butterfly Tattoo’ although I have not personally had the pleasure of viewing them for myself as yet, I have heard many compliments and exciting reviews – Hope we’ll be seeing more of you!
Melissa
Thanks for the recommendations!
All those people who seek to control the behavior of large numbers of other people work on the experiences of those other people. Once people can be induced to experience a situation in a similar way, they can be expected to behave in similar ways. Induce people all to want the same thing, hate the same thing, feel the same threat, then their behavior is already captive – you have acquired your consumers or your cannon-fodder.
Abigail, you are certainly a champion for women in film! It is reassuring to know that there are still excellent, well-written and challenging scripts out there for women of all ages. It is written!
Well done, and keep up the good work – looking forward to seeing more! xxxx
It’s good to see that this website blog looks abroad for input. Opportunities for women in film are limited throughout the world and, from a feminist perspective, it is important to take a world view of cinema. More blogs like these…it keeps us all on our toes! Well done Melissa and Abigail
You are an amazing talent. One I was so delighted to work with. Your piece is amazing and I look forward to checking out the other recommendations.
Great rundown of the ‘ones to watch’ from Cannes. We need more postings about more about your experience of Cannes and the going ons of the festival itself. Is it really the meat market/scrum that it seems in the press?
An excellent review and insight into the wide range and exciting films that Cannes brings to the forefront of the industry
I hope to hear and see more from you in the near future.
Best Wishes and lots of Luck xxx