British director Ken Loach's "The Wind That Shakes the Barley", a saga
set amid Ireland's struggle for independence in the early 1920s, won the
"Palme d'Or" at the 59th Cannes film festival last Sunday.
After receiving the award at a star-studded ceremony in Cannes, Loach
said:
"Our film is about, we hope, a little step, a very little step in the
British confronting their imperialist history. And maybe, if we tell the
truth about the past, maybe we tell the truth about the present."
Cillian Murphy and Padraic Delaney star as two brothers who join the
guerrilla war against British forces. But the men face harrowing choices when they end up on opposite sides
of the conflict.
Chinese director Wong Kar Wai, president of the jury, said the decision
on the Palme d'Or was unanimous.
The Grand Prix, or runner up prize, was awarded to "Flanders," directed
by France's Bruno Dumont. It is told through the story of the young and
taciturn farmhand Demester, who is called up to
fight a war in Middle East.
The ensemble female cast of Spanish director Pedro Almodovar's
"Volver," including Penelope Cruz and Carmen Maura, won the best actress
prize.
"This prize really belongs to Pedro," said Cruz, wearing a long red
dress. "You are the greatest, the bravest. You put so much magic into our
lives. Thanks for what you do for women all over the world."
Almodovar won best screenplay for Volver, his bitter-sweet tale of
abuse, abandonment and reconciliation which was the critics' favorite to
take the Palme d'Or before the awards were announced.
List of 59th Cannes Film
Festival Award
(Agencies)
