Cannes results

[Aaron Gerow]

After all the publicity over Kitano's _Kikujiro_ showing in competition 
at Cannes, it was Suwa Nobuhiro's _M/other_ that was the only Japanese 
film to come away with an award, the FIPRESCI Prize.  Only two FIPRESCI 
were given, one to a film in the official selection and one outside.  
Suwa won the latter.  It was the producer Sento Takenori's second award 
at Cannes (after _Suzaku_ two years ago).

_Kikujiro_ was subject to a lot of hype in the domestic Japanese papers 
and was actually quite well received at Cannes, especially by the 
audience.  Many foreign papers listed it as one of the favorites for the 
Palme d'or, but that went to a "dark horse," the Belgian film "Rosetta."  
The jury, it was reported, went with art-for-art's-sake films this year.  
Takeshi's sentimental road movie ended up with nothing, even though there 
was talk he might at least get the best actor award.

Personally, I don't the film was good enough to win an award, but others 
might have other opinions.  I look forward, though, to seeing _M/other_.

Aaron Gerow
Yokohama National University
KineJapan list owner
For list commands: send "information kinejapan" to 
listserver at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
Kinema Club: http://pears.lib.ohio-state.edu/Markus/Welcome.html