Of the 1,845 feature films submitted from 39 countries for the Cannes Film Festival competition to the selection committee, 26% were directed by women. Here are my final reviews of the competition films.
The 72nd Cannes Film Festival ended on May 25 with the awarding of the jury prizes. Our ecumenical jury watched the awards ceremony on television at the house of the parish priest of Notre-Dame de Bon Voyage with about 30 other people.
Masses, ecumenical prayer services and fellowship hours are integrated into the screening schedule for the jury here at Cannes, just in case you thought we were out partying on the yachts in the bay.
There are five criteria for judging films for the Ecumenical Jury Prize, involving artistic quality; religious perspective; responsibility; universal impact; and an ability to further future discussion.
"A Hidden Life" is a contemplative biopic of the Austrian conscientious objector who was beatified by the Catholic Church. But Malick avoids hagiography, choosing instead to focus on the inner journey of a man and wife.