Cannes 2010: Auteur Action

As the 63rd Cannes Film Festival comes to a close, there is a general opinion among critics that this year has not been one of Cannes' strongest. This time last year several films had blown audiences away, including A Prophet, Fish Tank and The White Ribbon; there was also plenty of controversy with Lars Von Trier's Antichrist. In comparison, 2010's Cannes crop is positively mediocre. Attention now turns to which film from those in competition is likely to win the prestigious Palme d'Or. Mike Leigh's Another Day is still a favourite among many but a couple of other films that have just screened could also be in with a chance.

I enjoyed Kiarostami's Certified Copy, his first film made outside of Iran which stars Juliette Binoche and William Shimell as a couple whose relationship is not all that it seems. They meet in a Tuscan town where Shimell's character is giving a talk about his latest book, which challenges ideas of authenticity in art and the notion of the original vs. the copy. The two meet again a few days later and take a trip, where their conversation reveals their relationship is not what we thought it was. The beginning of the film is jovial and light-hearted but the tone gradually becomes more subdued; the final scenes are full of sadness and regret. The central mystery at the heart of the story provides plenty of food for thought and, under Kiarostami's camera, there are scenes of great subtlety and beauty.

Another strong film in competition is Thai director Apichatapong Weerasethakul's Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives, a surreal story of a dying man and his encounters with creatures from the spirit world. It's a dreamlike creation which evokes an eerie and intriguing atmosphere, without doubt the work of a unique filmmaker. It was enthusiastically received by the audience at its first press screening in Cannes (a rare response this year) and would be a welcome winner of the Palme d'Or – at least in my opinion.

Outside of the competition, Blue Valentine, a low budget American film starring Michelle Williams and Ryan Gosling, screened in the Un Certain Regard strand. It tells the story of a young couple struggling to keep their marriage together and is interspersed with flashbacks to when they first met, which, over the course of the film, builds up a full picture of their relationship. The two central actors give strong performances and there are scenes of real poignancy as the two evaluate their relationship. It's likely to come to UK screens in the coming months - just don't pick it as a first date movie.