CONTROVERSIAL director Lars Von Trier may not win the Palme d’Or at this, year’s Cannes Film Festival but he appears odds-on favourite to take the prize for the strangest press conference.

A bio of iconic French composer-singer Serge Gainsbourg (Elmosnino) from his early life in 1940s German occupied Paris to his death in 1991 at the age of 62 … a film that leaves you wondering why exactly he was so popular.

As controversial a film as any released in recent years, one that has had critics and audiences sharply divided between it being crass, cruel and graphically unpleasant and an art-house movie of epic and life-changing proportions.

Too many images, too much tumbling of visual delights – however much they captivate and astound – mars what is otherwise as fine a film as has come our way in months.

Asking the boss and his wife to dinner may not be the most brilliant of ideas ... not when the wife is the dotty Alice - a wonderful contribution from Rampling - who contrives to wreck the party with embarrassing ease.