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Cannes Film Festival

Wuxia (Dragon) at Cannes

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The cast of Chinese movie Wuxia (aka Dragon) – i.e. Donnie Yen, Tang Wei, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Kara Hui, Jimmy Wang, Li Xiaoran, and director Peter Chan etc. – making their red carpet appearance at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival…

Wuxia Dragon Cannes

The ancient martial arts film tells the story of an assassin (Donnie Yen) who gone into exile in a small village, hiding away from his notorious gang (led by Jimmy Wang) as well as the kingdom detective (Takeshi Kaneshiro). After getting married (with Tang Wei) and living peacefully for some years, the two parties finally caught up with Donnie, and the three-corner battles explode.

[Read more…] about Wuxia (Dragon) at Cannes

Thai film wins Cannes’ Palme d’Or

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Thai film Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives took the Palme d’Or at the 63rd Cannes Film Festival. It was only the sixth Asian film to win the top prize at Cannes, and the first for more than a decade.

Directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul, the movie tells the story of a dying man who meets spirits of the dead. Among the surprises, his son appears as a monkey and an ancient princess has sex with a talking catfish. [via Bangkokpost]

Feature films

Palme d’Or: “Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives”
Grand Prix: “Of Gods and Men”, directed by Xavier Beauvois
Best Director: Mathieu Amalric, “On Tour”
Best Screenplay: Lee Chang-dong, “Poetry”

Best Actress: Juliette Binoche, “Certified Copy”
Best Actor (double winner): Javier Bardem, “Beautiful” & Elio Germano, “Our Life”
Jury Prize: “A Screaming Man”, directed by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun

Short Films

Palme d’Or: “Barking Island”, directed by Serge Avedikian
Jury Prize: “Bathing Micky”, directed by Frida Kempff

Cannes Film Festival – Previous: Cannes Film Festival 2009 winners

Cannes Film Festival 2009 winners

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Winners of the 62nd Cannes Film Festival. Not a bad outing for Asian films… Filipino director Brillante Mendoza won best director, Chinese director Lou Ye won best screenplay, while Korean director Park Chan-wook won a jury prize.

Feature films

Golden Palm – “The White Ribbon”, directed by Michael Haneke
Grand Prix – “A Prophet”, directed by Jacques Audiard
Best director – Brillante Mendoza, “Kinatay”
Best screenplay – Lou Ye, “Spring Fever”

Best actress – Charlotte Gainsbourg, “Antichrist”
Best actor – Christoph Waltz, “Inglorious Basterds”
Jury prize – “Fish Tank”, by Andrea Arnold / “Thirst”, by Park Chan-wook
Lifetime achievement award – “Wild Grass”, directed by Alain Resnais

Short films

Golden Palm – “Arena”, directed by João Salaviza
Special distinction – “The Six Dollar Fifty Man”, by Louis Sutherland, Mark Albiston

Jeon Do-yeon won best actress in Cannes

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Jeon Do-yeon became the first Korean recipient of the best actress award at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival for her role in Secret Sunshine.

Jeon played Sin-ae, a widow who moved with her son to a small town named Milyang (lit. Secret Sunshine) to begin her new life, but was struck by yet another tragedy. As the lady struggled to face the series of unfortunate events, a man (played by Song Kang-ho) stepped in and tried to offer her new hope in life.

Korean movies are gradually being recognised around the world; and this award could be a breakthrough for the Korean film industry. Congrats to the actress, people who worked behind the film, and to all Korean film makers in general.