I would’ve booed Southland Tales too.
To be honest, the French feel so strongly about films that many French critics and cineasts would probably boo a slightly iffy mise en scene, or if the set designer had something in an interview twenty years ago they didn’t agree with. I mean that as a great compliment to the French, by the way, because why not take films seriously? _
L’humanité was booed when it walked off with 3 prizes… a gesture not only unwarranted given the greatness of the flm, but especially unkind given that the 2 winning actors were non-professionals (natch).
@DFFOO…
“What kind of hoodlums are allowed at Cannes? I can’t imaging going to a serious film festival and thinking that it is appropriate to disrupt a screening by booing at something I don’t like. Not only is it disrespectful to everyone who worked on the film WHO ARE THERE, but it’s so disrespectful to the rest of the audience!
“So seriously, is just any old self-important, reactionary delinquent allowed at Cannes, or are all film critics just assholes? Those of you who have been: enlighten me!”
As someone else pointed out earlier, it’s the French we’re talking about here. And with Cannes supposedly meant to be the most prestigious film festival nowadays, I guess that only (self-consciously) raises the bar with critics there and reinforces their (perceived) sense of self-importance. Maybe also worth mentioning is that walkouts are synonymous with booing, for audience members who’ve lost the patience to even to wait until the end of a film to boo at it, and which are just as suggestive (especially if the director of the film happens to be attending one of the screenings, which is common).
greg x’s post is spot-on on this issue, I feel. Plus, on the flip side, there have been a lot of films that’ve received standing ovations from the same audiences as well.
Two nice videos that capture this whole topic actually in motion, as well as the general circus that is Cannes.
Oh, and to the OP, The Fountain screened at Venice, not Cannes. Personal views on it aside though, it receiving a round of booing wouldn’t be surprising.
The DaVinci Code was definitely a recent one (and who could blame them?).
I read they were laughing all throughout The Da Vinci Code. It was on the opening night of the festival too – ouch.
“Gertrud? rumor said Dreyer showed his middle finger after got booed”
…and also how von Trier gave the finger to the jury and stormed out of the theatre after his Europa didn’t win the Palme d’Or. Or Tarantino giving the finger to booing hecklers after he won the Palm for Pulp Fiction (video below). There’s also that story of Aki Kaurismaki apparently whispering to (Jury President) David Lynch to go fuck himself after being awarded the Grand Prix (2nd prize) (for The Man Without a Past) instead of the Palme d’Or.
Anyway…lots more booing videos found since:
(Bresson being booed!)
There also seemed to be a lot of it at this year’s ceremony – The Angel’s Share, Post Tenebras Lux, Reality (although sometimes it’s hard to tell whether that and the wolf-whistling are inflammatory or actually in support…).
Gertrud
L’Argent
The Voice Of The Moon
Under The Sun Of Satan
Wild At Heart
Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me
L’Eclisse
Taxi Driver
AntiChrist
Tree Of Life
Tropical Malady
El
Crash
The Soft Skin
Seconds
Mademoiselle
The Mother And The Whore
soiwaswrong
Please add Ang Lee’s Taking Woodstock… I also think that this film was booed at Cannes..