CANNES 2006 ONE GLITTERING WEEK AT THE FILM FESTIVAL
As usual, when I arrive at Nice International Airport, I flash back to age 16 when I saw Picasso standing right there, at the airport. He was waiting for someone, smiling, in his shorts and striped t-shirt, and I smiled back at him. That image is engraved forever in my memory.
The Cannes Film Festival is probably the most important film festival in the world. It consists of a selection of 20 movies, of which one of them is awarded the main prize, The Golden Palm, chosen by The Official Jury of ten members. Besides the movies in competition, many other movies are presented. This year, it opens its 59th season with the premiere of The Da Vinci Code. The word on the film is not good, as discussed at the bar of the Hotel du Cap, where Barry and I sit and have cocktails on the terrace with super agent Bryan Lourd, Vanity Fair's Graydon Carter and his wife Anna, luxury expert Hamilton South, French director Daniele Thompson and her art dealer husband Albert Koski. As we enjoy the wine and lovely sunset, we end up meeting actor Gregg Kinnear who is there to show his movie Fast Food Nation.
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| Albert Koski and Diane |
Greg Kinnear |
The next day the weather is sunny, but very windy, as we climb the famous red steps that lead into the Palais du Festival. We are all very excited to see Pedro Almodovar's new movie Volver. I have yet to see a bad Almodovar movie, and this one does it again. Tears are rolling down many cheeks as the film ends with a very enthusiastic standing ovation. Penelope Cruz's performance is extraordinary as well as the four other actresses. I can't help feeling so proud to be a woman as I leave the theatre. Afterwards, we go to dinner at the famous Tetou, where we patiently wait a very long time to have the best Bouillabaise in the whole coast. The night ends up at the M Beach for a crazy party and live performance of John Cameron Mitchell's movie Short Bus.
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| Barry Diller And Brian Lourd |
John Cameron Mitchell |
Vanity Fair organizes the best Oscar party in Hollywood, and every other year they do the same in Cannes. A dinner for 200, and an afterparty for a lot more, usually takes place on the terrace of the Eden Rock...The weather this year takes the party inside, but that does not stop the stars from coming. Guests include Ian McKellen and Gus Van Sant, who looks very hip, former Vice President Al Gore, elegant Helen Bonham Carter, a member of The Official Jury, and her super talented husband Tim Burton, hot Samuel Jackson, also on the jury, ravishing Halle Berry, Hugh Jackman, beautiful Elizabeth Hurley, French philosopher Bernard Henry Levi and his wife Arielle Domsbale, entertainment guru Harvey Weinstein, and designer Hedi Slimane to name a few!
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| Al Gore, Diane and David Geffen |
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| Francis Ford Coppola |
Elizabeth Hurley and Keven Zegers |
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| Samuel Jackson |
Helena Bonham Carter |
Gus Van Sant |
Johnny Pigozzi is the most colorful and glamorous friend of mine in the South of France. A citizen of the world, he divides his time between London, NY, Paris, and Panama, and has a beautiful house in Antibes that he inherited from his parents. Situated in a large park of Mediterranean pines, the house is a mix of 50s glamour, Ettore Sottsass 80s architecture and African contemporary. Every year, at the time of the festival, Johnny gives a big lunch around the pool and it is always the most fun!
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| John Pigozzi |
Christopher Thompson |
Julie Newton |
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| Diane, Albert and Philippe Junot |
Georgina Chapman and Diane |
The most interesting night I have this week is a dinner on Rising Sun, the extraordinary yacht that belongs to Oracle's Larry Ellison and his gorgeous wife Melanie. On board are Vice President Al Gore and his charming wife Tipper, entrepreneur extraordinaire David Geffen and grand dame Arianna Huffington. Al Gore is there to screen his movie An Inconvenient Truth, and talk about his mission, global warming. The conversation around the table is riveting and frightening! By the end of the dinner, I am determined to get involved and help instead of feeling guilty.
Marie Antoinette is the movie I most want to see at Cannes...The tragic story of the young French Queen, told by American director Sofia Coppola, is the most anticipated event of the week. It is very courageous for the young American director to take on such a sensitive moment in French history, and to show it in France first is almost suicidal! Yet, Sofia delivers a true masterpiece that she can be nothing but proud of. I love the movie...its sensitivity, its elegance and its naîveté are brilliant.
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| Larry Ellison And Melanie |
Sofia Coppola and Thomas Mars |
Standing Ovation |
That night, for the after movie party, Versailles is recreated on the beach. The director is there, happy and pregnant, with her supportive family: Francis and Eleanor, her formidable parents, and her brother Roman. I leave after the fireworks.
Cannes is now over and I spend a few more relaxing days on the boat before I end up in St. Tropez, where I am opening a DVF shop. St. Tropez is a place where I spent time as a young girl, and to now have a "home" there is exciting and a lot of fun. The shop is in the heart of St. Tropez village on rue Gambetta, between the famous Place des Lices and the Port of St. Tropez...hard to miss!! Catherine Madar, my French partner has done a great job at making this shop happen, and everyone is very happy to welcome me! The cocktail party bleeds into the street and we all end up on the boat for dinner...lovely way to end a lovely week!
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| Fireworks on the Beach |
St. Tropez Shop |
DVF & Catherine Madar |
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| Danielle, Diane, Albert, and Chris |
Line Outside Party |
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| Kenneth & Maria Cole |
Tamara And Diane |
Greta & Philippe |
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| Greta Halfin & Anne McNally |
Edward Polli, Diane And Philippe Junot |
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| Arielle And Tamara |
Catherine Madar and Edward, Shop Manager |