Voices: Cannes, where the world celebrates film
CANNES, France — During the final days of the Cannes Film Festival, I rode an escalator with a long-time, noticeably sleep-deprived Cannes reporter.
"I've got to take less time at Cannes next year," he said, in between sips of a long espresso. "This is too much."
I had to point out that we had had a very similar conversation like that in 2014. And possibly the year before that (it gets fuzzy).
But the fact is, that reporter will be back at Cannes next year in full force. Because there is no place better for true lover of movies than the South of France during those 12 days.
The 68th festival wrapped up Sunday, following an awards ceremony which saw Jacques Audiard's "Dheepan" receive the prestigious Palm d'Or award.
But the winners, and the celebration, are much more widespread. Two of the films which made the biggest noise — Pixar's Inside Out and George Miller's Mad Max: Fury Road — were not even eligible for awards due to out-of-competition status.
Being at Cannes gave the studio films the kind of festival cred that filmmakers yearn. And the reaction of the vocal French audience made clear that Hollywood films do not have to play it safe, or pander to the lowest-common-denominator. Mad Max has since proven that with its box office prowess.
We'll all be talking about Carol come awards season after the 1950s drama starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara comes to U.S. theaters in December. Sicario, starring Emily Blunt as an FBI agent pulled into the drug war, left my hands raw from clapping during the ovation it received at its world premiere.
Even the inevitable worldwide controversy, all the more powerful in the social media age, brought about worthy and needed conversation. The idea that women premiere attendees were supposedly stopped from hitting the red carpet because they were not wearing heels, though denied as a policy by the festival, actually spurred on discussion about the role of women in filmmaking and challenged the perception of glamour on the famous red carpet.
But mostly what spurs Cannes is the full, all-out, 24/12 celebration of film. No matter how much the chattering journalists love to complain about the yearly slate, the schedule is maddeningly full with movies and discussions that are truly rich.
Late at night, I often notice ruefully that crowds are watching festival-sponsored classic films on a giant screen right on the beach, the type of thing that would be a must-do any other time of the year. In all my years at Cannes, I've never had a chance.
My most consuming occupation is to follow gala premieres and their famed red carpets. It's a task that never gets old. Red carpets can get routine in an industry town like Los Angeles, for the people who walk on them and the people who monitor them.
But in Cannes, that real estate is still undiluted, powerful and amped up with a great soundtrack pumped over powerful speakers. The looks on the stars' faces as they step out, right down to the savviest Hollywood player, is infectious.
A Cannes first-timer, Inside Out star Amy Poehler, summed up her red carpet experience in life-defining symbolism.
"Before you get to the top (of the stairs), you turn around to look and see where you've been," said Poehler. "And then stand at the top and you own it."
It's that kind of powerful celebration that makes you want to say to weary regulars, rest up for the next 11 months. And see you next year.
Alexander covers movies for USA Today. This was his eighth Cannes Film Festival.