In the aftermath of the tumultuous opening of the Cannes Film Festival, Johnny Depp has hit back at his detractors. This Wednesday was punctuated by the screening of a short film by Pedro Almodovar, where glamour was at its peak, as well as by the screening of the first two films vying for the prestigious Palme d’Or.
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The film festival’s opening was marked by a heated controversy following the appearance of Johnny Depp, whose Hollywood star has dimmed after legal wrangles with his former wife, Amber Heard, over allegations of domestic violence. The actor, who plays Louis XV in the inaugural film Jeanne du Barry, directed by Maïwenn, countered at a press conference on Wednesday, denouncing the allegations against him as “horrible fiction”. “There are people who choose to believe what they wish, but the truth remains the truth. (…) For the past five or six years, most of what you’ve read was horrifying fiction,” he hammered during the conference dedicated to Jeanne du Barry.
Asked about his feeling of still being ostracized by Hollywood, he denied any boycott: “No, not at all,” he stated, adding, “I don’t feel ostracized because I don’t think about Hollywood.” He highlighted the strange paradox of an era where “everyone aspires to be themselves but can’t… you have to fit into the mold,” he quipped. He also joked about the term “comeback” used by the media to refer to his return. “Apparently, I’ve already made 17 comebacks… I never left.”
In the afternoon, the spotlight turned to Spanish director Pedro Almodovar, who presented one of the most anticipated projects of the selection, a 30-minute western-style short film, with Ethan Hawke and rising Chilean actor Pedro Pascal, known for his roles in hit series The Mandalorian and The Last of Us.
In this baroque western titled Strange Way of Life, Almodovar explores the reunion between a sheriff and the father of a young fugitive, 25 years after their love affair. This uncategorizable film is a showcase for luxury house Saint Laurent, which is venturing into film production. The actors, dressed by the house’s artistic director, Anthony Vaccarello, are impeccable.
Photo Credit : Patricia De Melo Moreira / AFP)
The evening will culminate with the screening of the first two films in competition to succeed Ruben Östlund’s Triangle of Sadness, last year’s Palme d’Or winner and this year’s jury president.
First to ascend the steps will be festival favorite, Hirokazu Kore-Eda, whose film Monster promises to stir strong emotions. After his triumph at Cannes in 2018 with Shoplifters, the director ventured abroad, working in France with Catherine Deneuve and Juliette Binoche in The Truth, and then in South Korea with The Good Stars.
Next to parade under the spotlight is one of the seven female directors in contention this year, Catherine Corsini, with her latest opus, The Return. The film tells the story of a woman hired by a Parisian family to take care of their children during their summer holidays in Corsica. The film’s late inclusion in the selection sparked controversy concerning the conditions of its filming.
Corsini, who already vied for the prestigious award two years ago with her film The Divide, offers in The Return a prominent role to Aïssatou Diallo Sagna. Corsini revealed the talents of this nursing assistant in her previous film, and continues to highlight her ability to captivate the screen in this latest work. The director once again demonstrates her ability to portray poignant and true human stories, solidifying her place among leading filmmakers of our time.
With AFP
