There’s a reason no one really remembers or talks about the Cannes Film Festival closing films…they usually aren’t very good. The past few years have seen the Audrey Tautou starring “Thérèse Desqueyroux,” Christoph Honoré‘s “The Beloved” and Charlotte Gainsbourg led “The Tree” all cap off the festivities…see what we mean? So, while any news from the Croisette is something we’ll zero in on, forgive us if we’re not holding our breath on this one…
Jérôme Salle‘s “Zulu” featuring Orlando Bloom and Forest Whitaker has been tapped this time to be the final reel played at Cannes this year. Set in apartheid-era Cape Town, two cops on the beat (Bloom and Whitaker) investigate the murder of a 18 year-old girl, the daughter of a member of the championship winning Springboks rugby team. Combining elements of political film noir and social study, this may not be a prize winner, but perhaps it will just be a solid B-flick? Given Salle’s previous credits (populist French fare like “Anthony Zimmer” — which was remade into “The Tourist” — and “Largo Winch“) that’s probably the most we can expect.
The Cannes Film Festival runs from May 15-26 and Audrey Tautou will preside over the open and closing ceremonies.