"Resistance on the Red Carpet" Wartime Cannes Film Festival June 1st 19:27
Cannes Film Festival in France, one of the three major film festivals in the world that ended on May 28th.
While popular actors and directors from around the world walk the red carpet every day and see the glitz as usual, this is a 12-day period in which the effects of Russia's military invasion of Ukraine are evident.
(Akiko Koyama, Directorate General of Europe)
This person also at the opening
It was clear from the opening ceremony on May 17th.
Ukrainian President Zelensky appeared on the huge screen of the venue.
It was Chaplin who made the "dictator" who satirized Hitler during World War II.
"We need a new Chaplin. The dictator is back. There is a fight for freedom. The movie shouldn't be silent."
Face political and social issues
The Cannes Film Festival has a tradition of facing political and social issues head-on.
It dates back to 1938.
It is said that the Italian Venetian International Film Festival of the year was replaced by the Nazi propaganda documentary shortly before the announcement under the pressure of Hitler and the Italian dictator Mussolini.
It was the Cannes Film Festival that started in France with the aim of creating a free and pressure-free film festival.
In 2004, the documentary film "Hanashita 911" directed by Michael Moore, which criticized the Bush administration's response to the terrorist attacks in the United States and caused controversy, was selected as the highest award Palme d'Or.
Following the military invasion by Russia, the organizers refused to allow Russian officials and officials to participate.
"It makes sense for the Ukrainians in the war to protest Russia in any way," said Thierry Fremo, head of operations.
I want to tell the world about the tragedy
There was an additional film that was decided to be screened just before the festival started.
A documentary film "Mariupol's 2" set in Mariupol in eastern Ukraine.
The work was directed by Mantas Kubedarabitus from Lithuania, who died in Ukraine.
After Russia annexed Crimea unilaterally, he produced a work depicting Mariupol's, "Mariupol's 2" is its sequel.
Director Kubedarabitus entered Mariupol to recapture the people he met in previous shoots after the Russian military invasion began in February.
He was detained by the Russian army while filming a civilian who was frightened and evacuated, and was subsequently killed.
Director Kubedarabitus, who died leaving an unfinished work.
In an attempt to inherit his will, his fiancé Hannah Viloblova, who accompanied her at the time, completed "Mauripolis 2" with her companions.
Mr. Birobrova stood in greeting before the screening.
She said with tears, "I'm honored to be able to showcase Mantas' work and achievements at the festival. I'd like to thank my colleagues for making it happen." It boiled up.
Listen to the voices of the victims
At the festival, excellent films from all over the world will be exhibited in various categories.
Of these, "Butterfly Vision" was nominated for the "Un Certain Regard" category, which is a collection of innovative works.
It depicts a female soldier fighting pro-Russian factions in eastern Ukraine who was taken prisoner and sexually assaulted and survived with trauma even after being released.
It was produced by Ukrainian director Maxim Naconnetuni (31).
As the military invasion continues, in Ukraine now men between the ages of 18 and 60 are not allowed to leave the country in principle, but Director Naconechny was invited to a film festival and was given special permission to leave.
I talked to him directly why he decided to make this work.
Director Maxim Naconnetuni
"I used to edit a documentary film about female soldiers, and their experiences and words left a strong impression on me. The female soldiers who were affected by the war and had trauma were the main characters. I decided to make a fiction film that I made for 2017, but it's the same thing that's happening now. The prisoners are tortured, raped, and humiliated. These "tools" are used in warfare to hurt the dignity of people. "
Directed by Naconechuni, who stood on the stage before the official screening of the video work.
He urged him to listen to the voices of those suffering from the military invasion.
"Knowing what is really happening in the war and the international community's solidarity with Ukraine can be a powerful defense. Only those who have had the harshest experience can broaden what is actually happening. We know. That is why we listen to these victims, act, unite and win the light. Glory to Ukraine. "
After the screening, the audience continued to applaud Director Naconechny and the actors who appeared for a long time.
How to deal with Russian movies
While Russian officials and officials were not allowed to participate in the festival, a film by one Russian director was nominated for the competition and attracted attention.
"Tchaikovsky's wife".
The story of Antonina, the wife of the composer Tchaikovsky, who was active in the 19th century.
She is married to Tchaikovsky, who is rumored to be homosexual, but cannot establish a marital relationship, and the divorce is cut out, causing her mental balance to be lost.
Director Kirill Celebrennikov, who worked on the film, is known for having satirized Russian society and criticized the Putin administration.
He was put under house arrest for embezzlement of national funds, and although his work was nominated for competition in 2018 and last year, he was unable to come to the festival venue.
In March, after the military invasion began, he left Russia and moved to Berlin, the capital of Germany, to continue making films.
"Tchaikovsky's wife" has no direct criticism of current Russian society or government.
Still, some of the viewers said, "It was set in the 19th century, when the rights of women and homosexuals were not recognized, but I still felt that I was criticizing the conservative and intolerant Russian society." There was also.
Participants' reaction to the screening of the Russian director's work was split in two.
(Pros: One of the spectators)
"A courageous director who went to Cannes while Russian officials who continued to invade the military were excluded from the film festival."
(Pros: One of the spectators)
"Artists and When the works come together, I feel that art has no borders. "
(Opposite: Polish film director)
" Why does the festival invite Russian directors when Ukrainian directors are forced into a situation where they can't produce their works? " can not understand"
The windy Russian director
How does Celebrennikov himself feel?
I asked him a question directly at his official press conference.
Question:
"As Russia's military invasion continues, there is a growing movement to boycott'Russia', including Tchaikovsky's songs and other Russian cultures that are normally loved around the world. What are your thoughts on these movements? "Can you please?"
Celebrennikov:
"If you look at the dire situation in Russia, you can understand the move to eliminate it."
With some understanding of the move to boycott Russia, Celebrennikov continued:
Director Celebrennikov
"Culture is air, water, clouds, and independence, so we shouldn't be able to call for the exclusion of culture. Eliminating Dostoevsky, Chekhov, and Tchaikovsky is also theater and music. We must also avoid denying movies. Russian culture has always appealed for human values, fragility, compassion for the soul, and compassion for the underprivileged. Russian culture because war destroys those values. Has always been anti-military and anti-war. It is those who declare war by throwing people in a hurry or who are not interested in human life or pain. War is incompatible with culture and theater. And music and movies are fighting to spread the value of anti-war. "
Thoughts of Cannes regular director Koreeda
The movie "Baby Broker" produced in South Korea by director Hirokazu Koreeda was also nominated for the competition section and attracted a lot of attention.
This is the sixth time that Koreeda's work has been nominated for the competition category.
In 2018, "Shoplifters" won the highest award Palme d'Or, and this time Song Kang-Ho, who starred in "Baby Broker", won the best actor award. Is there.
Regarding the significance of participating in the film festival, Director Koreeda said, "It's more valuable than receiving an award because it's a place where you can experience the wonderfulness and breadth of the films you're involved in."
And while he put up a message of anti-war at the festival, when asked about accepting the work of the Russian director, he immediately returned the answer, "I think it's right."
Koreeda also paid tribute to the festival's red carpet, which is open to the general public who have obtained tickets, as well as invited film directors and actors.
Director Hirokazu Koreeda
"The red carpet is not only a really gorgeous place where filmmakers are in the spotlight, but also various things in that place, such as resistance for resistance, opening up that place to people with small voices. I wonder if they will use it. I think that the attitude of holding a film festival as such a place is very clear in Cannes. That kind of freedom is guaranteed, isn't it? Here, for example, the director called by the film festival. It's possible that spectators who wouldn't accept the screening would leave when the screening started. It's a film festival that allows such an attitude statement itself. "
Message left by the festival
Some people don't even want to hear the word Russia now, while others think that Russian films that have nothing to do with power should not be closed.
A film festival that allows you to call for solidarity with Ukraine, accept Russian films, or leave the film in opposition.
"While firmly opposed to the military invasion, I accept different opinions and values forever."
That is the attitude that "Cannes during the war" tried to show.
I felt that way as I watched the gorgeous red carpet of people protesting silently in front of cameramen around the world and applauding Russian films.
Akiko Furuyama ,
Directorate General of Europe Joined Hiroshima Bureau in
2011.
After working in the International Department, she is
now based in Paris and covers social issues in France.