Standing ovation in Cannes for Michael Douglas, who last night received, during the opening ceremony of the Festival, the honorary Palme d'Or. The 76-year-old actor was accompanied by his wife, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, and their daughter Carys. Douglas received the award from the hands of Uma Thurman.
"There are hundreds of festivals around the world, but there is only one Cannes. This festival is 76 years old and I'm even older,"
he said. The actor evoked, among other memories, the dinners between Frank Sinatra, Gregory Peck and his father, Kirk. "An example. To the public he was an icon, a Superman. He was a father to me. His incredible endurance, strength and hard work were admirable," he commented, moved.
To open the 11 days of screenings, events, parties, and business moments, the Italian-French actress Chiara Mastroianni, daughter of the actors Catherine Deneuve and Marcello Mastroianni, godmother of the Festival. Mastroianni - recited a poem in support of the Ukrainians - before introducing the jury called to express itself on the 21 films called to compete for the 76th Palme d'Or.
Jury chaired by Swedish director Ruben Ostlund. The director of "The triangle of sadness", winner of the last edition of the Festival, has launched an appeal in favor of cinema and its cinemas as a meeting place in the era of
social media.
After the opening ceremony, the Festival screened the first film of 2023, the historical drama "Jeanne du Barry", directed by actress French Maiwenn, who also stars alongside Johnny Depp. The two were the big attraction on the red carpet of the Croisette.
Despite some controversy on the part of actresses and feminists against the organization of the festival that welcomes "men and women who attack" (in reference to Johnny Depp who came out unscathed from the trial against his ex-wife, and the director Maiwenn), the former Pirate of the Caribbean was instead welcomed triumphantly by his fans.
The 2023 edition of the Cannes Film Festival saw its traditional parade of stars although compared to last year, they are in smaller numbers. Among them: Helen Mirren, in a light blue total look, from the dress to the hair, the Chinese actress Gong Li, in black with a choker dress, Madds Mikkelsen, who stars in the new "Indiana Jones", festival event, and Pierre Richard, who illuminated the cast of Maiwenn's film with his navy blue dress and a large scarf.