Winterbottom and Korine head to the Croisette
At least two UK feature co-productions have been chosen for this year’s Cannes Film Festival (May 16-27): A Mighty Heart [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by prolific British director Michael Winterbottom, screening out of competition, and US filmmaker Harmony Korine’s Mister Lonely [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (Un Certain Regard).
A three-time Palm d’Or nominee – for 24 Hour Party People [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (2002), Wonderland (1999) and Welcome to Sarajevo (1997) – Winterbottom has made a majority US film co-produced by Paramount Vantage, Plan B Entertainment and the director’s own UK outfit, Revolver Films.
The film tells the story of a woman (Angelina Jolie) who goes on a frantic search for her husband after he goes missing in Pakistan.
Considered a maverick by Hollywood, the latest offering by Korine (Julien Donkey-Boy), on the other hand, is a majority UK film (Recorded Picture Company and the director’s London-based company O’Salvation), co-produced by France and Ireland.
The story of a Michael Jackson impersonator (Diego Luna) who falls in love with a Marilyn Monroe look-a-like (British actress Samantha Morton) – with a intriguing cast that includes Werner Herzog and David Blaine – is being sold internationally by the newly created Dreamachine (see article).
A third UK title, the short film For the Love of God by Joseph Tucker, a National Film and Television School project, was also selected for the Cinefondation section.
In response to yesterday’s announcement on the Cannes line-up, a UK Film Council spokesperson said: “We are delighted that A Mighty Heart, Mister Lonely and the short film For the Love of God have all been selected. President of this year’s Cannes Jury is Stephen Frears, who’s had such a successful year with The Queen [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Andy Harries
interview: Stephen Frears
film profile]. Britain dominated Cannes in 2006 with The Wind that Shakes the Barley [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Ken Loach
interview: Rebecca O’Brien
film profile] and Red Road [+see also:
trailer
film profile], scooping the top two prizes, and this year British talent has a starring role in deciding the winners.”
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