It’s was Dolan’s first time in competition at the festival (his first three films ran in parallel categories), and the first official festival award received by either director, Dolan at 25 and Godard at 84.
Dolan’s fifth film had gathered steam all week, generating buzz at Cannes and in media around the world as a favourite for the Palme d’Or. So there was an inevitable, if infinitesimal letdown to see it not claim top honours.
As tweeted by La Presse’s Marc Cassivi: “Dissapointment in the press room. By quasi-general opinion, we hoped for better for Mommy. Prix du jury = bronze medal.”
It may come as consolation that the Prix du Jury was won by Quebec director Denys Arcand for Jésus de Montréal in 1989.
The Grand Prix, or silver medal, went to Italy’s Alice Rohrwacher for Le Maraviglie, or The Wonders, while the Palme d’Or was awarded to Winter Sleep by Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan.
If Dolan was feeling shortchanged, he didn’t show it in his heartfelt acceptance speech.
“I’m sorry, I’m very nervous and very emotional,” he said. “The emotion that I feel in contemplating this mythic room is overwhelming. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude, standing before this jury. I’ve received so much love over the last week. We do this work to love and be loved, as revenge for our imaginary loves.”
Dolan thanked jury president Jane Campion, personally, explaining that her 1993 movie The Piano was the first film that really touched him, at age 15, and helped him understand who he was.
“It made me want to write beautiful films for women,” he said, “women with soul and will, who are not victims or objects.”
The director also shared a few words for “my generation,” which hinted at his struggle to get to where he is, and the controversy that has followed him along the way.
“People are entitled to their own tastes, and some will dislike what you do; some will dislike who you are. But together we can change the world. By touching people, making they laugh and cry, we can change minds and lives. Not only politicians but artists can change it. There are no limits to our ambition. Everything is possible for those who dream, dare, work and never give up.”
Fellow Canadian director David Cronenberg saw his film Maps to the Stars honoured via the best actress award given to Julianne Moore. Best actor was handed to Timothy Spall for Mike Leigh’s Mr. Turner. Andrey Zvyagintsev and Oleg Negin took best screenplay for Leviathan. Bennett Miller was named best director for Foxcatcher. The Caméra d’Or, for best first film, went to Party Girl, by Marie Amachoukeli, Claire Burger and Samuel Theis.
Twitter: tchadunlevy
