‘Shoplifters’ wins Palme d’Or, grand prize to Spike Lee
A tumultuous Cannes Film Festival culminated Saturday with the Palme d’Or awarded going to Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda’s “Shoplifters,” a tender portrait of a poor, improvised family, while Harvey Weinstein accuser Asia Argento vowed justice will come to sexual predators.
At the closing ceremony for the 71st edition of the French Riviera extravaganza, the Cate Blanchettled jury selected one of the festival’s most acclaimed entries, one hailed as a modest masterpiece from a veteran filmmaker renowned for his delicate touch. “Shoplifters” is about a small-time thief who takes a young girl home to his family; after seeing scars from abuse, they decide to keep her and raise her as their own.
While many speculated that the Cate Blanchett-led jury might award only the second Palme d’Or to a film directed by a woman, the most likely contender — Lebanese director Nadine Labaki’s “Capernaum” — was instead given Cannes’ jury prize. The film drew a rousing standing ovation at its premiere Thursday but less enthusiastic critic reviews for its tale of a 12-year-old boy living in poverty who sues his parents for bringing him into such a cruel world.
Spike Lee’s “BlacKkKlansman,” the highest profile American film in competition at Cannes, was awarded the grand prize. The film ignited the festival with its true tale of a black police detective who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan. Lee connected the film to modern day with real footage from last year’s violent white supremacist march in Charlottesville, Virginia.
“I take this on the behalf of the People’s Republic of Brooklyn, New York,” said Lee, accepting his award.
The 12-day festival was the first since the downfall of Weinstein, who was for decades an annual fixture in Cannes. In the aftermath, this year’s festival was shaken by debate over gender equality in the film industry and at Cannes. In a striking rally, 82 women — the same number of female filmmakers to ever be selected to Cannes competition lineup — stood on the Palais red-carpet steps, as Blanchett said, “a symbol of our determination to change and progress.”
Some changes were swift. Just days later, with Blanchett’s jury looking on, Cannes’ Artistic Director Thierry Fremaux signed a pledge to make the festival’s selection process more transparent and promised other measures to improve the festival’s record of including female filmmakers.
It was also a part of Saturday’s closing ceremony. Argento raised a fist raised high on the red carpet. The actress has said Weinstein raped her at the Cannes Film Festival in 1997. (Weinstein has denied all accusations of non-consensual sex.)
“In 1997, I was raped by Harvey Weinstein here at Cannes. I was 21 years old. This festival was his hunting ground,” said Argento at the ceremony. “I want to make a prediction: Harvey Weinstein will never be welcomed here ever again.”