Italian filmmaker Bernardo Bertolucci opened the 64th film festival in Cannes, at the traditional ceremony after which Woody Allen's new film “Midnight in Paris” was shown.
Bertolucci, winner of two Oscars for the film "The Last Emperor of China", was awarded the honorary Golden Flame for his entire career.
"I waited a little while to receive my Palme d'Or," commented the 70-year-old Bertolucci, who dedicated the award to "all Italians who still have the strength to fight, criticize and resent".
Woody Allen's romantic comedy, which opened the festival, was screened outside of the competitive selection.
According to the film critic of the Croatian Jutarnji list, Jurica Pavičić, it is a mediocre Allen film "full of erudite from the past".
"I don't know what to expect, we'll see," De Niro, usually tight-lipped, told reporters
"Midnight in Paris" is like that: a mediocre high concept full of stereotypes, in which the best parts are also those parts where the director introduces legendary artists into the plot.
Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Picasso, Buñuel appear in the film, Adrien Brody plays Dali in a brilliant episode, and Kathy Bates plays Gertrude Stein.
Among the 20 contenders for the Palme d'Or are films by Terrence Malick, brothers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, Lars von Trier, Nani Moretti, Pedro Almodovar, Aki Kaurismaki, Radu Mihaileanu and Paolo Sorrentino.
The winner of the festival's main prize will be chosen by a jury led by Robert de Niro. The Oscar winner and president of the jury said that he is impatient to watch the films that are in the running for the main award - the Golden Palm.
"I don't know what to expect, we'll see," De Niro, usually tight-lipped, told reporters. "To watch so many films without interruption in such a short time is extremely unusual and fantastic for me," added the 67-year-old Oscar winner for his roles in the films "Raging Bull" and "The Godfather 2".
About the task he will have as chairman of the jury, De Niro said that it is a "double-edged sword", since some artists "will not be awarded" at the festival. "That's right," he added.
The complete jury of the festival, which will last until May 22, includes actors Jude Law, Uma Thurman and Martina Guzman, directors Johnny To, Olivier Assayas and Mahamat Saleh Harun, producer Nansun Shi and writer Lynn Ulman.
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