Cannes - Mohamed Hashem Abdelsalam
The activities of the 76th session of the “Cannes International Film Festival” (May 16 - 27, 2023) opened with the French film “Jean de Pré” by director Maywin. This was after a quick, intense and artistic ceremony compared to previous sessions. During which the members of the “main competition” jury were introduced . It was followed by a short, profound and intelligent speech by the head of the jury, Swedish director Ruben Östlund. He is coming to chair the committee exactly half a century after it was assigned to his compatriot, actress Ingrid Bergman. Compare smart devices and cinema. Where one pushes her towards isolation and thoughtlessness, and the other towards intimacy, communication, and exercising the mind. Then, a song by the Anglo-American band Gabriels.
Then, Hollywood actor Michael Douglas, 78 years old, was honored by awarding him an “honorary Palme d’Or” in recognition of his career, to be added to the many awards he received, including two “Oscars” and two “honorary Cesars.” In a poignant speech, Douglas, whose previous Cannes screenings include “The China Syndrome” (1979), “Basic Instinct” (1992), “The Fall” (1993), and “Behind the Candlestick” (2013), expressed: His appreciation and gratitude to the festival, and pride in the award. He mentioned three important stations in his life, and the most important people who influenced his life and career, during these stations. French actress Catherine Deneuve, 79 years old, will also appear on stage in honor of being the poster star of the festival this year. With simple, expressive words, Deneuve thanked the festival. She recited a very short poem by a Ukrainian poet, about the Ukrainian situation and the war.
The opening ceremony, which took place in the Grand Hall of Lumière, at the Palais des Festivals, on the Croisette, was followed by the world premiere of the film “Jean du Barry”, the new film by the French director and actress of Algerian origin, Maiwine (1976). The film is her sixth feature-length feature. Starring opposite American star Johnny Depp, co-starring Benjamin Lavergne, Melville Bouboud, Pierre Richard, Pascal Gregory, and India Hair. The film is considered one of the most expensive French films during the past year 2022, with a budget exceeding 22 million dollars. Overall, the film is one of the best opening films. At least, during the festival's final years. It cannot be compared at all to last year's very bad opening film, “The Pieces,” by Frenchman Michel Azanfavicius.
In part, “Jean de Barry” by the Frenchwoman Maillon, the romantic historical film that opened the 76th session (May 16 - 27, 2023) of the Cannes Film Festival (outside the main competition), tells the life story of the young woman Jeanne Faubernier (Maillon), and her aspirations since her birth. As the illegitimate daughter of a poor cook, in 1743. Although she did not complete her education, because she left school early and belonged to the working class, her intelligent, stubborn, dynamic, and playful personality supported her in climbing the social ladder and moving up. Her weapon is her beauty, attractiveness, and charm as a female, and her promiscuity as well, to escape her poverty and environment.
One day, her lover, the Comte du Barry (Melvil Poupaud), who has enriched herself thanks to her sexual escapades and his extreme exploitation of her, wants to present her to the king. After several attempts, he was able to do this. Her meeting with King Louis XV (Johnny Depp) exceeds all his expectations, as it turns into love at first sight and a stormy relationship that develops quickly and madly.
Through this courtesan, the king finds himself and loves life, away from the complexities of the palace and court ceremonies, all of which are stifling, to the point that he could not live without her, so he decides to make her his favorite concubine and official mistress. The film, based on true facts, was written by the director in collaboration with Teddy Lucie Modest and Nicholas Levinci, and revolves around the relationship between the king and his mistress, and the turmoil and discontent she raised in the royal court, especially after the king brought her to the Palace of Versailles and resided there, even though she was not a noblewoman. This contravenes the rules of decorum, etiquette and royal ceremonies. It is a move described as scandalous, for a girl from the street to live in the royal court. In the end, with the king's illness and death, her life changes again, in a way that she had never imagined, and it comes to a tragic end, as she becomes the last of the king's official mistresses.
Although the events are real, and the film is somewhat historical, and deals with one of the most famous kings of France, it does not show the turbulent relationship between the French king and the people, especially since he remained in power for 59 years, and this is the longest period of rule in the history of France, after King Louis XIV. What is strange is that he did not mention the fact that Louis
What is dramatically shocking is that “Jean du Barry” has nothing to do with this rich dramatic material of the king’s life. Only, the latter was shortened, and his broad life was shortened, by his relationship with Jan. Even the details of the relationship, emotionally, sensually, and humanly, are not woven, not presented in depth, and completely unconvincing. There is no development of the dramatic threads after the king’s meeting with Jeanne and his choice of her, nor even of the characters, with their depths, motives, obsessions, and whims. What is interesting to note is that the thorny, and often turbulent, relationship between her and members of the royal court, and their hatred for her, especially the king’s daughters, was not exploited well, and never developed, to become interesting and exciting, leading the drama to deeper areas. This indicates a weakness in screenwriting, although it could have been done much better, with some effort and craftsmanship.
As a director, Maiwine used raw 35 mm film for “Jean du Barry” to achieve the maximum cinematic benefit possible, by presenting pure and visually different aesthetics that serve the intended atmosphere of the 18th century and highlight the aesthetics of that period. An ambitious attempt, certainly, helped by making good use of the atmosphere of the historic Palace of Versailles, where most of the events were filmed. Here, her effort, the effort of her team members, and the clear production cost are highlighted, which resulted in a very convincing film, visually. He is also not talkative, as is the nature of these films, and French cinema in general.
“Jean du Barry” is the first French-language film for Johnny Depp, who was not known for his proficiency in the French language. The judgment on the extent to which he mastered it or not is up to the French, the people of the French language and its speakers. However, due to the film's reliance on acting, images, and silence primarily, his role did not always require speaking, but rather employing the body and facial expressions more. On the other hand, the film is about Jean, who was not absent from the screen for almost its entire duration (116 minutes), not about the king. So, Depp didn't show up or talk much. This helped him hide his American English accent. It can be said that it is a bold adventure for him, and for the director who bet on him, not only because he is an American playing the role of one of the most important and famous kings of France, but also because he stopped working 3 years ago, and was followed by scandals, cases, and trials. However, its performance is very mediocre. Perhaps because he has almost no role, he is there to serve the character of Jean, which Maiwen did some effort to present.
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