If recent history is any indicator, the French film Entre les Murs (The Class) is now doomed to obscurity in the United States. The film won the Palme d’Or, the top prize given at the Cannes Film Festival. This is the first time a French film since Under the Sun of Satan has won the Palme d’Or. Remember that movie? Me, either.
The Class is about a teacher and his students at a rough high school in Paris. It was based on an autobiographical novel by Francois Begaudau, who played himself in the movie. While it’s probably a wonderful film, the Palme d’Or can’t seem to translate into any sort of widespread American interest since 1994’s Pulp Fiction. Fahrenheit 9/11 managed to pull down big box office, but that was more based on the subject matter than it’s Canne’s victory. The Wind that Shakes the Barley, The Child, and Elephant are more representative of the lack of interest in Palme d’Or winners.
Sean Penn was the jury president and in addition to dooming The Class, he passed out the best director prize to Nuri Bilge Cevlan of Turkey and the Grand Prix to the Italian film Gomorra. Benicio Del Toro won the best actor award for Stephen Soderberg’s Che with best actress going to Sandra Corveloni. All the winners can be found at HR
