Laura Morante was stagestruck and elegant, as the hostess with the mostest to introduce for the Cannes extravaganza of opening night. "Anthropologists claim that man is the only living being interested in images--other animals see them only as illusions and look away", said the Italian actress. "It's the love of cinema that brings us here", she explained. And that was doubly reinforced by president of the jury Quentin Tarantino, who strode onto the stage, and seemingly with a loss for words at first proudly exclaimed to France that he was honored to be "president of the magnifique festival" - a little carried away in the passion of the moment. "Cinema, mon amour," he gushed, and to the world --"Viva Le Cinema!" Then the jury was introduced to a round of warm applause and shouts. Pedro Almodóvar was next called up to the stage, who dedicated the opening to the victims of the train explosion in Madrid on March 12. He then declared the 57th Cannes Film Festival open!
Clips of the world of Tarantino cinema were shown, bringing the festival up to speed with the kind of filmmaker that will be marshalling in this year's films.

As for the manifestation of workers who receive project work in theatre, film and radio, and due to new government policy suffer unemployment benefit cuts, agreements were made with the festival organizers for a platform in which to air their grievances. The Cannes artistic director Veronique Cayla realizes the importance of this "just cause" as does one of the directors of the official selection, Agnes Jaoui and many members of the French entertainment industry. Since over 100 of these workers help to put up Cannes the issue was given appropriate attention in a gesture of solidarity and diplomacy.


Moira Sullivan