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PEOPLE & ARTS Tuesday 14 May 2019
On eve of festival, Cannes defends its record on women

By JAKE COYLE be based on gender par-
Associated Press ity," Fremaux said Monday.
CANNES, France (AP) — A "All the films in the official
year after 82 women pro- selection — and there are
tested en masse on the 15 women directors in all,
red carpet, the Cannes 20 if you add the shorts —
Film Festival on Monday all these films are there be-
defended its record on fe- cause in our view as the
male filmmakers and for people who selected the
the first time divulged data films, they really deserve to
on its selection process. have been selected."
Addressing reporters on the "There have never been
eve of the 72nd Cannes so many women directors
Film Festival, Thierry Frem- in the official selection be-
aux spoke at length, both cause there have never
touting the festival's strides been so many women di-
in gender parity and bris- rectors in the industry as a
tling at what he described whole," said Fremaux.
as Cannes' being held to Cannes, Fremaux said, is
an impossible standard. criticized in a way that oth-
Issues of gender equal- er festivals and social orga-
ity have resonated par- nizations are not.
ticularly in Cannes, where A view of the Palais des festivals during the 72nd international film festival, Cannes, southern "The Cannes Film Festival
only one female filmmaker France, Monday, May 13, 2019. has to be impeccable
(Jane Campion, in 1993 for Associated Press and absolutely perfect. Of
"The Piano") has ever won course we try to be per-
the festival's top award, was 21-years-old. This festi- dation of 50/50X2020, the both features and shorts, fect," said Fremaux. "No
the Palme d'Or, and where val was his hunting ground." festival created a space included 19 films directed one has asked me to have
women directors have (Weinstein has denied the for nursing mothers, which by women, or 27.5%. 50% of films made by wom-
never numbered more encounter was rape.) it dubbed Le Ballon Rouge. Still, some have said Cannes en. That would show a lack
than four in the main slate Following pressure by And four films directed by isn't progressing coming of respect."
of approximately 20 films. 50/50x2020, the French women were selected for quickly enough, noting that 50/50X2020 said it will re-
Not wearing high heels has sister group to Time's Up, competition, matching the it trails parity rates of other view the findings in a press
even, as recently as four Fremaux last May signed previous record set in 2011. major festivals, including re- conference in Cannes on
years ago, been a reason a pledge — with Cate Cannes on Monday of- cent editions of Berlin, Sun- Friday.
for denying entry to a pre- Blanchett, Ava DuVernay fered a dose of transparen- dance and Toronto. For the This year's festival has also
miere. and others looking on — cy on its selection process, second time in two years, attracted some backlash
Cannes is also where Har- promising to make the including who sat on the Fremaux held a press con- to its selections. In competi-
vey Weinstein for decades festival's selection process selection committee. That, ference defending Cannes tion is Abdellatif Kechiche,
was a prominent regular. more transparent and to too, had been a suggestion from its critics, the day be- whose "Blue Is the Warmest
At the festival's closing push their executive boards of 50/50X2020. The festival fore Jim Jarmusch's "The Color" won the Palme d'Or
ceremony last May, Ital- toward gender parity. said that it received 1,845 Dead Don't Die" will open in 2013. In October, Paris
ian filmmaker Asia Argento This year, Cannes's selec- feature film submissions the festival. authorities launched an in-
declared on the stage: "In tion committee was 50 from 39 countries, 26% were "When we signed this char- vestigation into a sexual as-
1997, I was raped by Harvey percent female for the first directed by women. Its of- ter, the idea was never sault allegation against the
Weinstein here at Cannes. I time. On the recommen- ficial selection of 69 films, that the selection would director. q
Tense 'If She Wakes' moves to a surprising finale

By OLINE H. COGDILL Beckley, a student at Kaplan to look into the col- While "If She Wakes" is a
Associated Press Maine's Hammel College, lision to avoid any lawsuits stand-alone thriller, Ko-
"If She Wakes" (Little, ends up in a coma af- over the death or Tara's ryta brings back, in a way,
Brown), by Michael Koryta ter being injured in a hor- hospital bills. But Abby is a brothers Jack and Patrick
Multi-award winning au- rific car accident in which former stunt driver with an Blackwell, professional kill-
thor Michael Koryta again visiting professor Amandi encyclopedic knowledge ers who first appeared in
shows his affinity for smooth- Oltamu is killed. Tara had of accidents, having re- 2014's "Those Who Wish Me
ly melding sophisticated been driving Amandi to cently been in a high-pro- Dead." While the brothers
action with solid charac- deliver the keynote speech file collision that resulted in are now dead, their legacy
ter development — even about his groundbreaking a fatality. It soon becomes looms large, especially in
when one of the individuals work on batteries and solar clear that this accident the form of Dax Blackwell,
is in a coma — as happens panels. The professor insist- could not have happened a teenage assassin who is
in "If She Wakes." ed they take an alternate as the police reports stated. more violent than his father
"If She Wakes" not only route and had wanted Soon more deaths linked or uncle.
works well as a quintessen- them to stop on a bridge so to the incident occur. As Koryta is such a polished
tial thriller but also as a tale he could take photographs Abby investigates, Tara re- writer that his plots zip by as
about rebuilding one's life with his phone when they mains in the locked-in syn- he delves into the amorality
and not giving up on one's were struck by another ve- drome, able to hear what is of Dax and the humanity of This cover image released by
self amid insurmountable hicle. going on around her in the Abby and Tara, whose per- Little, Brown and Company
shows "If She Wakes," by Mi-
odds. Hammel College hires in- hospital room but unable sonality emerges, despite chael Koryta.
Bright, personable Tara surance investigator Abby to communicate. being paralyzed. q Associated Press