During a tough economical crisis, Romanians’ happiness reasons should pass the material area…because the lack of alternatives. If we focus on the bright side, what if we see this crisis like a good opportunity to appreciate human values? If we are talking about the “Values” chapter ( without referring to school disciplines or gipsy songs), let’s start with Cristian Mungiu and Corneliu Porumboiu.

To make this equation coherent, let’s put them together. Let’s give them some awards, add some elegant actresses on the set,  a grandiose décor…and boom, we have the 2009 edition of the Cannes Awards.

The festival took place this year during 13 and 24 may and gathered many international celebrities, like famous directors ( Pedro Almodovar, Quentin Tarantino), talented actors (Brad Pitt, Jude Law, Penelope Cruz, Monica Bellucci). Although the event had a strong press campaign, the festival had a low budget, compared to other editions, which fit the economical crisis. The organizers revealed the sum of 20 million euros, from which  half comes from public funds. On the list of the financiers, we can find the Town hall, The Ministry of Culture, The Regional Council Provence-Alpi-Coasta de Azur and the General Council of Alpii Maritimi.

Bad luck followed the organizers. Except the budget problems, the strike of the stuff of the EDF and GDF companies from France cut the alternative current during “I Love you Philip Morris”, with Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor, at Noga Hilton Hotel. But this lasted only a few seconds, until their own electrical generator was turned on. It was a sabotage.

But this didn’t succeed to spoil the moment, and the movies shown during the 12 days of festival were very appreciated. The 62^nd edition was presented by Isabelle Huppert, twice awarded at Cannes Awards for  din „La Pianiste” and „Violette Noziere”. The big prize was taken by „Un prophete”( France, Italy), by Jacques Audiard.

The Romanian director Corneliu Porumboiu didn’t come back home empty handed. He won for Romania 2 awards : from the International Federation of Cinema Press for the section Un Certain Regard”  and the jury award for “Politist.Adjectiv”. The movie follows the story of a policeman, interpreted by Dragos Bucur, obliged to investigate a minor case that involves a high-school boy. In the end, the police officer realizes that he doesn’t believe in this job anymore. The comedy was shot at Vaslui,   the birth town of the director and the place where his first movie was filmed („A fost sau n-a fost?”), awarded at the 2006 edition of the Cannes Awards with the Camera d’Or prize. The Romanian premiere of „Politist. Adjectiv” took place during the Transilvania Movie Festival, ended on the 7^th of June.

Spiced with gossip and covered in an elegant and joyful atmosphere, the Cannes Awards, 2009 edition, had a great success among the press and the good movie fans who like strong messages. The ending of the 62^nd edition marked the ending of another year blessed with genius ideas captured in movies which are worth seeing.

Diana Duca