Cannes 2010: Xavier Beauvois’ Des hommes et des dieux wins Grand Prix

French cinema is in great hands. Last year we had the Audiard film win second best, the previous year we had The Class win gold. This year we have this picture that I hadn’t even consider viewing until the very end, and after seeing the critical appraisal it received and getting the you really need to see this film speech from an “on the Croisette” friend, I was then very glad that there was no conflict in scheduling between the last screening of the film (Sunday they re-show all the Main Comp films) and tonight’s awards as I would have missed out on a great film – which after having seen it, I easily predicted would claim the 2nd prize. The work of each actor as a group demonstrates says plenty about directors who’ve learned their craft by being actors first. Xavier Beauvois captures the dramatic tensions with a lucidity that matches the tempo you’d find in a monastery. This receives a French release in September around the time where it should play at TIFF – Sony Pictures Classic picked Of Gods and Men up shortly after the screening. I look forward in seeing Michael Lonsdale’s bushy eyebrows and great wisdom once again.