Cannes Day 7: 'The Apprentice' courts controversy; Studio Ghibli shines
The seventh day of the 77th Cannes Film Festival was marked by significant events. In one corner, the biographical drama The Apprentice stirred up a whirlwind of controversies as it delved into the tumultuous rise of former US President Donald Trump. On the flip side, there was a moment of pure celebration as Studio Ghibli made history by becoming the first group to receive an honorary Palme d'Or. Here are the highlights.
'The Apprentice' sparked controversy; lawsuit threat looms
The Apprentice—directed by Ali Abbasi—explores Trump's ascent in 1980s America under rightwing attorney Roy Cohn. Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong portray Trump and Cohn respectively. The movie didn't shy away from depicting controversial scenes, including Trump's sexual assault of his former wife, Ivana. In response, Steven Cheung, spokesperson for the Trump campaign, declared, "We will be filing a lawsuit to address the blatantly false assertions." Despite these controversies, it received an eight-minute standing ovation at its Cannes debut.
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Studio Ghibli's Palme d'Or recognition
In another highlight, Studio Ghibli, known for animated classics like Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away, received the prestigious Palme d'Or. The Japanese animation studio was founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata, and Toshio Suzuki. Miyazaki—unable to attend the ceremony—expressed his gratitude via a video message, stating, "I don't understand any of this, but thank you." This came shortly after the success of The Boy and the Heron, which secured the Academy Award for Best Animated Film in March.
Women in Motion Awards and Young Talent Recognition
In addition to the aforementioned highlights, Dame Donna Langley, chairperson and chief content officer of NBC Universal Studios Group, was honored with the Women In Motion Award at Kering's dinner on Monday. The Women In Motion program was established by Kering in 2015 to spotlight inequalities in culture and arts. Malaysian director Amanda Nell Eu also received recognition at the event, as she was awarded the Young Talent Award for her contributions to cinema.
