Director Jane Campion has a new film competing for the Palme D'Or award at Cannes; Bright Star, an Australian-British co-production.
Bright Star is about the love affair between poet John Keats, who died of tuberculosis in 1821 at the age of 25, and his young neighbour Fanny Brawne. English actor Ben Whishaw plays Keats and Australian Abbie Cornish plays Brawne.
The initial response from the film's first audience was respectful but muted. It was only afterwards that, among the usual divisions, many critics told Campion how moving they found it.
Bright Star's story and many of its incidents are drawn from biographies of Keats and from his letters. It is told, however, from Brawne's point of view, a position that occasionally feels off-kilter, however familiar the themes of love and loss, because it is so unusual in movies.
"It was such a great way to meet Keatsbecause she fell in love with him and, through her, so can we," says Campion.
Is Jane set to become the first female director two win two Palme D'Or awards (she one for The Piano)? She still has the distinction of being the only female director who has won.
Gallery Info: Abbie Cornish, Ben Whishaw, Phoebe Price, Eva Longoria, Tony Parker, Mathew Modine, Juliette Binoche, Yanou Collart, Jerry Lewis, Abderrahmane Sissako, Jane Champion, Barbara Mori, Giovanni Ribisi, Kerry Fox and Thomas Sangster at the Cannes premiere of Bright Star.
Click any thumbnail launch the gallery and view all 56 photos:
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