26/05/2003 - Europe lost out in terms of the Competition that favoured American independent cinema, but the future of our film industry is rosy

Not one of the seven principle awards (All the awards) distributed in the main competitive section of the Cannes Film Festival was won by a European film.
Subjected to a number of strongly worded attacks by North American media who accused the organisers of promoting only European films, or films produced by Europeans, Cannes surprised detractors by presenting American director Gus Van Sant wiht the Palme d’Or for Elephant. Patrice Chéreau’s jury even broke a rule and gave one of America’s pre-eminent independent filmmakers the best director nod too for his portrayal of American teenagers.
The international press agreed with the jury’s having given the top award to the best of the twenty films in competition albeit slightly disconcerted by its having bestowed six awards on just three titles. Lars von Trier’s Dogville, starring Nicole Kidman was undoubtedly the evening’s biggest loser when the jury ignored the widely touted frontrunner and the innovative performance of its cast. Reactions were mixed with some crying scandal and others justifying the jury’s decision with the numerous prizes both von Trier and his Australian leading lady have already won for this film.
The other big loser that came away empty handed was the French film industry despite the fact that 25 per cent of the twenty films in competition were Gallic. However it must be pointed out that since, to a degree, he also represents the host country, was it really necessary for Frenchman, Patrice Chéreau’s jury to penalize all of Europe as well? That said, the future of the European film industry is not all doom and gloom given the victory of a number of Continental filmmakers in the sidebar sections, from Italy’s Marco Tullio Giordana to Denmark’s Christoffer Boe, without forgetting France’s Julie Bertucelli, Norway’s Bent Hamer, England’s Roger Mitchell and Spain’s Jaime Rosales.

(Translated from French)