Cannes Day 5

Having enjoyed a “day off” in the sunshine yesterday (not fully though: I went to catch the Day After screening of Thirst), today represented a gruelling challenge. Agora, clocking in at 149 slow minutes, followed swiftly by 2 hours of Tzar, and then a break of two hours before Antichrist at 7.30pm this evening. Thank God I didnt plump for the 8.30am screening of Johny To’s Vengeance as well, as I may not have been in any fit state to type anything by now. As it is, I’m tired, but mercifully the false-adrenaline of copious espressos has kick-started me.

Interestingly, the festival organisers chose to show Agora, Tzar and Antichrist together on the first Sunday of the run- something I’m sure that will incense the religious element, especially considering the portrayal of Christianity in the first, and the anti-religious elements of the second (not to mention the implication of the third’s title). I’m all for parity in selection, and the religious link seems a simple one to make, but is there some proverbail thumbing of collective noses in the direction of the Church going on here? Whatever: who am I to complain, I abandoned the call of the church long ago and now worship whole-heartedly at the altar of the silver screen. Look out for reviews of all three popping up in the next few hours.

Highlights so far

• The wonderfully electric embrace of caffeine
• Sauntering into Agora as one of the first of the press allowed entrance.
• Discovering that Free Willy: South Africa is going to grace screens in the not so distant future. Small ones probably.

Lowlights

• Cramped leg room is not exactly conducive to retaining a critical mind.
• How come the coughing only ever starts when the lights go off- are these people allergic to the dark?
• The night-before stink of alcohol on the two men on either side of me in Tzar. Sympathetic vodka drinking perhaps?

I still do not understand why certain critics get up and walk out of a screening so regularly- how can anyone claim to offer a sufficient analysis if they are outside in the sunshine when 90% of the film’s action is taking place? Even if I hate the film, I refuse to leave. This is a privilege and a phenomenal opportunity that I would not want to abuse.