CANNES, France — The tender, sensual lesbian romance “Palme d’Or” has won the hearts of the 66th Cannes Film Festival, taking its top honor, the Palme d’Or.
The jury, headed by Steven Spielberg, took the unusual move of awarding the Palme not just to Tunisian-born director Abdellatif Kechiche, but also to the film’s two stars: Adele Exarchopoulos and Lea Seydoux. The three clutched each other as they accepted the award, one of cinema’s greatest honors.
“The film had a beautiful French youth that I discovered during the long time filming the movie,” said Kechiche at the festival closing ceremony Sunday. “It taught me a lot about the spirit of freedom.”
Exarchopoulos stars in the French film as a 15-year-old girl whose life is changed when she falls in love with an older woman, played by Seydoux. The three-hour film caught headlines for its lengthy, graphic sex scenes, but bewitched festival goers with its heartbreaking coming of age story.
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“Life of Adele,” which premiered at Cannes just days after France legalized same-sex marriage, was hailed as a landmark film for its intimate portrait of a same-sex relationship.
“The film is a great love story that made all of us feel privileged to be a fly on the wall, to see this story of deep love and deep heartbreak evolve from the beginning,” said Spielberg. “The director didn’t put any constraints on the narrative, on the storytelling. He let the scenes play as long as scenes play in real life.”
Spielberg called Kechiche (“Games of Love and Chance,” “The Secret of the Gran”) a “sensitive, observant filmmaker.”
Cannes’ feting of “Life of Adele” came the same day tens of thousands of protesters marched against the new law Sunday in Paris, and police clashed with some demonstrators. Seydoux called the film “a witness to our time.”
“If it can show everyone tolerance, then it’s gratifying,” said Exarchopoulos.
But jury member Cristian Mungiu, the Romanian director, said current events had no bearing on the decision.
“We were giving awards to cinema,” said Mungiu. “Not for political statements.”
“Gay marriage is something that many brave states in America are resolving,” said Spielberg. “This film actually carries a wry, strong message, a very positive message.”
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“Life of Adele” had ranked highest in critics polls at the French Riviera festival.
The Palme d’Or can catapult a filmmaker to international renown, and significantly raise the profile of a film.
“Life of Adele” was picked up for U.S. distribution during Cannes by IFC’s Sundance Selects. Last year’s winner, Michael Haneke’s “Amour,” went on to win best foreign language film at the Oscars, as well as land the rare best picture nomination for a foreign film.
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