Cannes kicks off with Meryl Streep's honor: Day 1 highlights
The eagerly-awaited 77th Cannes Film Festival began on Tuesday (May 14), drawing a host of international stars to the red carpet. The day was marked by the presentation of the honorary Palme d'Or to Hollywood legend Meryl Streep, who received a standing ovation from more than 2,000 guests. In another development, jury member Greta Gerwig voiced support for potential workers' strikes. A lot happened on the Cannes opening day. Here are all the major highlights.
Who was the unexpected star at Cannes this year?
An unexpected star, Messi, the dog from the Oscar-winning Anatomy of a Fall, also made an appearance on the red carpet. The canine celebrity delighted photographers and guests as he strolled up the grand stairs, waving his paws. This is not the first time Messi has delighted audiences. To recall, he stole the spotlight at the 96th annual Oscar nominees luncheon. Messi's role as Snoop in the French courtroom drama has garnered praise as one of the film's standout features.
Gerwig led the jury, addressed potential workers' strike
The jury for this year's competition was announced earlier, with Gerwig serving as its president. Other members include Ebru Ceylan, Lily Gladstone, Eva Green, Nadine Labaki, Juan Antonio Bayona, Pierfrancesco Favino, Omar Sy, and Hirokazu Kore-eda. During the opening ceremony, Gerwig addressed the potential workers strike saying, "I support labor movements. I hope that the festival workers can form an agreement that is good for them and supports them and supports the festival."
A teary Streep reflected on her time at Cannes
Juliette Binoche emotionally presented Streep with the prestigious award, praising her for "changing the way we look at women." Meanwhile, in her speech, the 74-year-old Oscar winner expressed gratitude for being welcomed back after 35 years, reminiscing about her last appearance for 1989's Evil Angels. Reflecting on her career, Streep likened it to watching the past unfold before her eyes. She concluded by saying, "I am just so grateful that you haven't gotten sick of my face."
#MeToo movement recognized in speeches
Against the backdrop of France's film industry confronting a renewed #MeToo reckoning, Binoche joined 100 other stars in advocating for comprehensive legislation to address systemic sexism and gender-based violence. Camille Cottin, host of the opening ceremony and star of Call My Agent!, echoed these sentiments, stating that nighttime professional meetings in hotel rooms with powerful men are no longer part of the habits and customs of the Cannes vortex following the adoption of #MeToo.
Festival began with 'The Second Act' premiere
The festival started with the premiere of Quentin Dupieux's The Second Act, a French comedy featuring Léa Seydoux, Vincent Lindon, Louis Garrel, and Raphaël Quenard. The first film helmed by artificial intelligence (AI) received a tepid standing ovation lasting 3.5 minutes, reportedly. In this meta-film, French actors portray characters engaged in crafting a romantic comedy, fully aware of its futility as it marks the pioneering endeavor of AI in both writing and directing a feature film.
