Often the juries at the Cannes Film Festival will try to make a political statement in their choices for the winners of the World’s most famous film festival. Not this year. At least not in the way they might have.
I rather thought that director Mohammad Rasoulof would take the Palme d’Or for his stirring, The Seed Of The Sacred Pig, which deals with the oppressive regime in Iran and the crisis in one family where the daughters rise up to protest against the wishes of their father who is a judge handing out death sentences for those who make their voices heard. Plus the back story of Rasoulof’s own daring escape from his home country, after making this movie in secrecy and also being handed an 8 year prision sentence, is also a strong one. He made his way to Cannes where his film deservedly received a rapturous welcome yesterday on the festival’s last night of screenings.
Alas the jury, headed by Greta Gerwig, handed the film only a “Special” Jury Prize, not even one of the major awards given, and though it gave Rasoulof a world platform to talk about the many reasons this film was necessary in today’s tinderbox environment in his country and elsewhere, a Palme d’Or for a film whose lead actors still can’t even leave the country would have been a major statement. Related Stories Festivals Greta Gerwig-Led Cannes Jury On Awarding Palme D'Or To 'Anora' In Year That Had "Embarrassment Of Riches" News Cannes Film Festival: 'Anora' Wins Palme D'Or; 'All We Imagin.
