There are masterpieces that are part of the history of the Cannes Film Festival and “Le Guépard”(Il Gattopardo) is one of them.
This French-Italian film by Luchino Visconti received the Palme d’Or unanimously from the Jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1963. Adapted from the book of the same name by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, the film tells the story of the collapse of the Sicilian feudal aristocracy and the rise to power of the bourgeoisie. With this film, Visconti paints a beautiful historical fresco evoking the social upheavals of the Italian Risorgimento in the 1860s. In spite of a somewhat academic but perfectly mastered staging, the director brilliantly paints the last moments of a declining nobility prey to a certain blindness in front of the emergence of a booming middle class.
In Le Guépard, Prince Salina, a deeply disillusioned character and Visconti’s double, is the only one of his caste to understand that the end of his world has arrived. He decides to accommodate himself by favoring the marriage of his nephew, Tancredi, with Angelica, the daughter of the rich liberal mayor of Donnafugunta, Don Calogero, a parvenu and opportunistic bourgeois. With the splendid scene of the ball, the director announces the marriage of reason between the old Sicilian nobility, ruined but respectable, and the new bourgeoisie, rich, vulgar and pushy.
As a parallel to the story, an aging Burt Lancaster(Il Gattopardo) gives way to an emerging Alain Delon, sublime with all the ardor and recklessness of his youth, the cinema must continue with new idols. Besides, isn’t it Visconti himself who puts his words in Tancredi’s mouth:“Everything must change so that everything can remain as it was before “!
May 14, 2010, the film makes its comeback on the Croisette in a new restored version in the Cannes Classics selection. The screening was the occasion of a climb of the stairs unpublished couple of the film formed by Claudia Cardinale(Angelica Sedara) and Alain Delon(Tancredi Falconeri) since the actor, held on a shoot, had not been able to go to the Festival in 1963.
The craze for this masterpiece of the cinema is still strong, so many personalities came in a packed room to discover this restored version. The two stars of the film were visibly moved by the standing ovation they received from the audience after the screening.
The glamour was still there and the red carpet shone again last night. Gucci Artistic Director Frida Giannini, in a long strapless Gucci Premiere sequin dress, was joined on the red carpet by Martin Scorsese, founder and president of The Film Foundation, which made the restoration possible with the help of Gucci. Benicio Del Toro did not leave his dark glasses but would not have missed for anything in the world this projection. Anouchka Delon had chosen the bag “Chameleon” by Swarovski.
Camilla Belle wore a midnight blue asymmetrical dress in Soir from the Gucci Premiere collection. Jury member Kate Beckinsale showcased her flawless figure in a white silk georgette draped in silver and sequined Gucci Premiere gown that she paired with beautiful white gold and diamond earrings and a white gold and diamond ring all from Chopard. Lea Seydoux chose a Gucci premiere goddess dress while Aishwarya Rai wore a long, pleated halter dress in Gucci magenta. Salma Hayek proved again her very sure taste by wearing a red asymmetrical dress, draped around the waist and very low cut, in Gucci Premiere silk georgette. And Aissa Maiga chose to accompany her strapless white dress with Chopard platinum and diamond earrings as well as a Chopard platinum and diamond ring and a fine platinum bracelet set with Chopard diamonds.
A tribute to the Cheetah!
“ We were the Cheetahs, the lions, those who will replace them will be the jackals, the hyenas, and all, as long as we are, cheetahs, lions, jackals or sheep, we will continue to take ourselves for the salt of the earth “.
Photo Credit:
Photos Claudia Cardinale, Alain Delon Palais des festivals : © Getty Images
Photo Salma Hayek and François Pinault: © Tony Barson/WireImage
Photos Martin Scorsese, Lea Seydoux and Frida Giannini: © Venturelli/WireImage
Photos Kate Beckinsale, Aishwarya Rai, Benicio Del Toro and Alberto Barbera, Camilla Belle: © Venturelli/WireImage
Photos Alain Delon, Claudia Cardinale and Anouska on the steps: © Venturelli/WireImage
Photos Kate Beckinsale, Aissa Maiga : with the courtesy of Chopard Jewellery
Marie-Odile Radom
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