As our Man in Cannes alluded earlier, there's a dearth of quality films to hold the interest of this year's festival attendees. And now there's also a dearth of quality filmmakers to hold their interest -- led by the legendary Jean-Luc Godard, who was hilariously a no-show for the press conference and premiere of his fest entry Film Socialisme. Oh, and for those keeping score at home, Sean Penn isn't coming either.
Insert your Waiting for Godard jokes here:
A few minutes after the first screening of Godard's new feature film, Film Socialisme, one that some have said would be his last, critics made their way to the press conference venue. Manohla Dargis, J. Hoberman, Michael Phillips, Anne Thompson and many others assembled on the third floor of the Palais des Festivals here in Cannes, even though rumors of Godard's absence were rampant.
"It would be very Godardian for him to show up anyway," one critic said hopefully. Moments later, a guard reiterated that the press conference was canceled and the media dispersed. One journalist said that Godard has a history of canceling trips to festivals, while others wondered about his health.
"Due to problems the Greeks would be familiar with, I unfortunately cannot be at your disposal in Cannes," Godard said, in a statement in French newspaper Liberation today [...]. "I'd walk to the ends of the earth for the festival," he added, "But alas I will not be taking a single step further. Sincerely, Jean-Luc Godard."
Say whaaaa? "Problems the Greeks would be familiar with"? Is he broke? Can't the EU bail him out? In any case, this leaves Godard's last appearance at Cannes as being way back in 2001 -- almost nine years ago to the day of his latest absence. Ridley Scott is in pretty good company after all.
As is Sean Penn, the one-time Cannes jury president whose Fair Game screens at the festival on Thursday. Don't expect him there, however; he's got obligations on Capitol Hill, according to his rep. "Sean is not able to attend Cannes," she wrote in a statement to Anne Thompson. "He is speaking at Senate committee hearing in DC about the crisis in Haiti."
So let me get this straight: "Greek problem" casualties = 1. Haitian committee-testimony casualties = 1. Knee-replacement casualties = 1. Icelandic volcano casualties = 0? Excuses fall out of fashion so fast these days.
· Jean-Luc Godard: 'No Comment' [indieWIRE]