Hollywood loses top billing to Europe at Cannes

VETERAN Spanish director Pedro Almodovar leads the early running in Cannes this year with his bitter-sweet comedy Volver, as European cinema overshadowed Hollywood at the world’s biggest film festival.

Also catching critics’ eyes as the annual orgy of pictures, publicity and parties reached the halfway point, was a first-time filmmaker from Britain, Andrea Arnold, with Red Road and Turkey’s Nuri Bilge Ceylan with Iklimler (Climates).

“America is really performing badly this year,” said Mark Cousins, an author and commentator on cinema. “Asia is doing next to nothing in the competition, so it is really Europe that is shining with an old-fashioned approach to cinema.”

While critics and the Cannes jury do not always see eye-to-eye, leading the pack in the hunt for the coveted “Palme d’Or” is Almodovar’s Volver, a touching and humorous return to his beloved world of women. Spanish star Penelope Cruz pairs up with Carmen Maura in what has been described as the 32-year-old beauty’s best performance yet, putting her in pole position for the best actress award. Her main competition comes from Kate Dickie, in Arnold’s first ever feature film.

Also highlighted as a possible prize winner among the first 10 of 20 films in competition is Ken Loach with his Irish civil war drama The Wind That Shakes the Barley.

The Da Vinci Code, which opened the festival but is out of competition, was panned by reviewers, although its worldwide box office tally hit $224 million in only a few days.

Critics are hoping Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette, starring Kirsten Dunst, will restore some Hollywood pride.