CANNES FESTIVAL, 2023
Yes! It happened.
We were invited to attend the 76th annual Cannes Film Festival and it was the bucket list event it promised to be. In true "upscale glamour" we were treated like film stars, a camera crew following us and we were wined and dined for two sunny days at the French Riviera's signature event. How lucky were we? How lucky was I to be at the side of the most handsome man at the event? (And he was a VIP guest!)
We arrived at Nice's Côte d'Azur airport just after noon and were greeted by our private chauffeur who must have been boiling in his dashing black suit but sounded ever so suave with his heavy accent. He settled us in the back seat of the black Mercedes which had already been pre-prepared with cool water, and drove us to the landmark hotel, the Le Majestic Barriére. Discovering that we were right across the street from the LE GRAND THÉÂTRE LUMIÈRE, and that our room had a view of the red carpet entrance, was a big surprise.
After we checked into our luxurious room, which also had a partial ocean view, we were whisked to the "Plage des Palmes" restaurant for chilled champagne and a delicious lunch. We were introduced to the photographers and they tried their best to ease us into the life of being photographed at any given moment. It was a little unsettling for us "normal" folk!
That evening, we decided to arrange our own dinner on the vibrant streets of Cannes with friends, to enjoy fully the area surrounded by the many boutiques and designer shops. The sights and smells were all a welcome reminder of my love affair with France. A sea of people thronged around the cobble stone streets of Boulevard Croisette, in their finest dress, fresh from a screening at one of the Cannes Film theatres. It was an absolute treat to people-watch and feast on some french cuisine (and lots of wine) until we were ready to escape the busy streets and disappear into the shades of beige and chocolate tones of our elegant room. In our wildest dreams, we were ensconced in our private "pied-à-terre" (small flat, house, or room kept for occasional use). Outside the thick curtains, the cameras did not stop flashing, as celebreties arrived in rows of limousines, the paparazzi all competing for the best photo.
At first we were disappointed, (mostly hubby), that we had not been invited to Harrison Ford's last Indiana Jones film. The feeling soon dissipated when we were informed that we were instead invited to be on the red carpet with the cast of the "most star studded film" at Cannes 2023, ASTEROID CITY.
After a day in the hot sun (and copious amounts of champagne) and hours spent strolling along the many private beaches, it was time to welcome my hair and make-up artists in our room. At first I was uncomfortable, but these two professionals soon started transforming me. Their first question was: "Which star are you "channeling" for your make-up?", and they were surprised when I answered them with, "Sophia Loren". (She is my muse and also wears glasses.) After a short discussion about how that particular style would not suit me, in their opinion, they started whirling around me while my husband watched on with much amusement. He knew how foreign this was for me - his "plain Jane" preferred no make-up and a caftan. He took sly photos to show me how I cringed amidst the pampering and compliments. He laughed when, after they had left, I "corrected" some of their "work".
When we were finally "carpet ready", the photographers were on standby to capture this exciting and memorable moment. My three-meter genuine 10-strand Ostrich feathers, (responsibly harvested) all the way from South Africa, was a popular choice. I had paired "old with new" and wore my 20-year old dress, which I had fished from the deepest archives of my closet.
It was a thrill to be escorted by VIP security, who stopped the traffic (including some limousines carrying the elite), as we walked to the red carpet - too close to the LE GRAND THÉÂTRE LUMIÈRE, to be driven by chauffeur! Our hosts tried to prepare us for the sea of photographers, all shouting instructions and celebrity names, but nothing could ever make us feel at ease as we stepped onto the famed RED.
Ahead of us were models and celebrities, who had emerged from their black cars and who were having their dresses put together in "phases". Finally it was our moment and a gentle nudge from our hosts told us the carpet was ours to be savoured.
Instinctively, as our crew started taking photos, I covered my face, (thinking I might stroke out with all the flashes and loud noise), causing one of the hosts to have to run and grab my hand, to assure me. I truly can't say that this was my best moment and I did not "own" any part of that carpet - I wanted to reach the top of that stairway as fast as I could. This "world stage" was not designed for introverts either, as photos of my husband can attest - he had his back to the camera, and is seen pulling me quite forcefully up those stairs. Needless to say, we missed the camera cue and we did not turn, as instructed, for the much anticipated "top of the stairs" photo! Sadly this was an opportunity missed. We can't imagine doing this "for a job" or even more than once and affirmed that this was a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence for us.
Once we were seated, the stars made their entrance and we were able to see them from our seats in the galleries above them. Of course seeing Tom Hanks and his wife, Scarlett Johansson, Hope Davis and Adrien Brody up close, was exciting. When Scarlett was late to arrive (for just a few moments), Tom and Wes verbalized concern and walked back up the stairs inside the theatre, just as she emerged apologising profusely. I realised that she did not have the opportunity to visit the restroom without scrutiny and once again reflected on how these famous people had no privacy. I was sure they felt every eye on them in that theatre and I could not imagine what that must be like - I pitied them.
With this impressive a cast, I was surprised that the film did not fare better at Cannes 2023.
ASTEROID CITY, a Wes Anderson "American science fiction romantic comedy-drama", was expectedly strange and different. I have only watched a couple of his previous films and knew it would be brilliantly weird and probably not completely comprehensible to everyone, least of all, my husband. The visually stunning 1955 set design and colorful city in the desert, visited by an alien, did not appeal to many of the guests around us, and were, like us, shifting around with loud sighs - but we all laughed at some of the funny parts. The cutting of scenes to the sub-plot (of the writer) and his mono-tone narration, did make the storyline difficult to follow (as was eluded to in the narration by the writer himself) and it detracted from the genius and idiosyncratic movie-making behind it. I loved the alien though! My favorite lines from the movie were when they pondered the meaning of life and that maybe, there is one. Perhaps we will watch it again in a less stressful situation at home, on the couch, on Netflix, and see it for its brilliance, as voted with an overall 74% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. We took part in the 6-minute standing ovation.
The stars left the theatre via the red carpet and of course, we were not allowed to mix and mingle but were treated to a fabulous dinner at the brasserie Le Fouquets, at the Le Majestic Barriérre, a legendary restaurant chain that I have visited, also in Paris, on des Champs-Élysées. True to French tradition, the service was very slow, but the Champagne was flowing as if "on tap". We fell into bed on a high, grateful to have experienced something truly magnificent.
Afterward, we decided to have a romantic day and night in our favorite chic town, Juan-le-Pins, which is part of the area of Antibes. We took only memories and left our footprints among all those creatures who were lucky enough to live there. We can only dream.
C'est super!
On PLAGE HELIOS, Juan Les Pins
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