On May 22, 2012, at 7:30 p.m., the Grand Théâtre de Lumières in Cannes, the hall with a capacity of 5,000 people was full.

In front are filmmakers, stars, and celebrities from all over the world.

In the back are audiences from all over the world, similar to a concert, with different seats and different prices.

Fans in the film and television industry are a little more normal, and they don't want to be as crazy as fans of idols in the music world.

Although the general audience is large, it is not noisy.

Li Shengyao did not sit with Liu Dehua and Liang Jiahui this time, he sat with a group of directors, Wes Anderson on the left, and Regadas on the right.

Regadas is forty-two years old, he can be regarded as a young director, he is quite handsome, mentally normal, and dressed normally.

Looking at his appearance, I can't imagine that he will shoot those movies that seem to be for neurosis.

This is a loving person, other people's movies are for normal audiences, and his movies are for schizophrenia.

None of the three are European directors, but relatively speaking, they have some common language.

At this time, Regadas's face was pale, and he held his stomach with his right hand, frowning slightly.

He is from Moxigo, and he didn't find Moxigo's flavor food a few days ago, and he ate burgers and hot dogs for a few days, which made him lose two pounds.

Just yesterday, he suddenly found out that there was a Moxigo restaurant in Antil, next to Cannes, and when he saw the food in his hometown, he couldn't help himself.

This morning, Mei Zizi enjoyed the hometown dishes packed back, and her stomach began to rumble in the afternoon.

He had just gone to the bathroom, but his stomach was still uncomfortable, and he felt like he was losing two pounds again.

Wes Anderson doesn't talk much on stage, but if you get his approval, he's going to have a lot to say.

Just like now, Wes Anderson looked at a beautiful woman with a big grinding plate in front of him, and whispered: "Lee, the best word-of-mouth this time is your "Parasite", as well as Michael's "Love", and the Palme d'Or will inevitably be selected from these two films." ”

Li Shengyao smiled, "I hope to have this luck." ”

"The probability of you winning the prize is fifty percent, and the probability of Regadas winning the prize is seventy percent."

Regadas was clutching his stomach, his face was painful, and he couldn't help but say, "What award do I get?"

"Best Director."

In a film festival, the most important award is naturally the best film, and then the other awards.

The Best Director award is an affirmation of a director.

Regadas knew his reputation in the hearts of ordinary fans, and couldn't help but laugh, "Man, even though it's impossible, I still thank you for your blessings." ”

"It's not a blessing, it's speculation."

"Parasite" and "Love" are one level ahead of other films, these two films, either the Palme d'Or or the Grand Jury Award, Lee and Michael will not be able to compete for Best Director, and you will have the best chance of being the one left."

Very few films at the Cannes Film Festival can win the Palme d'Or, best director, or best actor or actress, and generally only one award.

If you're lucky, you can win another award for Best Cinematography, or Best Screenplay.

Hearing this, Regadas laughed at himself and shook his head, "Don't think I don't know, there are a group of powerful directors." ”

Wes Anderson had apparently given this question a long time ago, "This time the jury is presiding over Nanny. Moretti, he has always liked films that are innovative and insist on artistic creation, and he admires directors like you. ”

Nanni. Moretti is a native of Italy, almost sixty years old, he has never compromised with commercial films, and the films he produces are more life-oriented, with a heavy autobiographical color, and in terms of subject matter, it is a bit of the meaning of Jia Section Chief, which is to tell the changes of small town youth in the big era.

Of course, Nanni's cinematic footage is much prettier.

His films are relatively boring, have no distinct themes, and are good at self-mockery, self-speculation, and dry humor.

It has formed a style of laughter and scolding, criticism and ridicule, and insight and explanation.

He has never concealed his dislike for commercial films, feeling that commercial films are fake.

Wes Anderson went on to say: "Nanni is the chief of the jury, and it's very bad for Lee, he doesn't like commercial films. ”

Although "Parasite" has a profound theme, it is indeed a commercial film in terms of story construction.

Li Shengyao nodded, "You're right. ”

Wes Anderson continued: "This time the jury, three directors, three actors, and a costume designer from Paris, I saw a Hollywood media report that all seven of them were more inclined to literary films.

This is good for Regadas and not very friendly to Lee.

So I think the probability of Regadas winning the director award tonight is very high, and Lee will depend on luck. ”

Regadas clutched his stomach and pressed it hard, expecting time to hurry up, "Man, it's a pity you're not a judge. ”

Wes Anderson laughed, "There's also a friendly factor to Lee, Jacob is a well-balanced person, and many of the award-winning films in Cannes are both commercial and artistic. ”

Jacob, the director of the Cannes Film Festival, is 82 years old, and it is under his leadership that Cannes has grown and become the world's No. 1 film festival.

He does think more about the commercial impact of the film.

After all, it is too literary and artistic, and ordinary audiences don't like it, and it is forced, but the influence is not good, and it will also affect the reputation of Cannes.

Cannes often chooses Hollywood stars as the theme of Cannes film tributes, just as this year is a tribute to Monroe.

It's just to make Cannes as down-to-earth as possible.

At this moment, Regadas could not control himself, hurriedly got up, and left his seat.

Wes Anderson chuckled, "I really want to see the picture of Regadas winning the directing award and then standing on stage with his legs between his legs to give a speech." ”

Li Shengyao also smiled.

No one thought that looking at the shy and introverted Wes Anderson, there was actually a big boy hidden in his heart.

Regadas soon returned, still with his legs between them, and certainly not completely resolved.

At this time, the Cannes Film Festival awards ceremony officially began, just like the opening ceremony, first Jacob, then Nanni. Moretti took the stage to speak, and then a female singer from Italy sang three songs in a row, and then entered the real award ceremony.

At the beginning, it was a kind of related award for the focus unit, and the focus unit was a category, which had the meaning of a single subject score.

The main competition award is the overall subject score.

The relevant awards in the Attention section were handed out in turn, and the two most important awards went to French cinema, namely "After Lucia" and "Unforgettable Night".

These are two literary films, the kind of literary films that are difficult to recover in the film market.

Li Shengyao has watched "Unforgettable Night", as far as his personal aesthetics are concerned, the movie is too grinding, there is no theme, and it is actually ugly.

However, the organizers of the Cannes Film Festival obviously have the intention of supporting literary film directors.

Even if there is a barrier to ordinary movie-watching, he is still willing to give awards.

After the awards related to the attention unit were awarded, followed by the FIPRESCI Award for International Film Critics, this award is even more niche, and the films awarded are more literary, as if they are not literary films, they are not strong enough.

Fortunately, the next Honorary Palme d'Or is a little more commercial, and this honorary Palme d'Or is actually a lifetime achievement award.

The award was received by Eastwood, whose films were very popular with the academic jury, and he is likely to be the filmmaker with the most Oscars in the world.

For the younger generations, about Lao Dongmu, in addition to winning awards, there is also a love for movies.

At the age of ninety-one, he can still direct and act by himself, and this ability is really unmatched.

Lee Shengyao admires such a filmmaker very much, but if he is allowed to choose, he doesn't want to be so tired, and he will retire until he is fifty years old, so he has to rest.

After presenting the honorary Palme d'Or, Regadas went to the bathroom again, and also came back quickly, but his face was still pale, and he walked normally, and immediately covered his stomach when he sat down.

"Goo-goo!"

Regadas's stomach rattled.

Li Shengyao smiled, "Bear with me, there will be half an hour at most." ”

Regadas nodded, "It's so uncomfortable, Lee, even if you win the grand prize, I won't be able to go to the celebration banquet and drink with you." ”

"It's okay, we still have a lot of opportunities."

Thinking of Lee Shengyao's age, Regadas nodded enviously, "You're right. ”

After awarding some less important awards, it finally came to the main competition awards.

The first award was given to the best screenplay, from Romania. Mongi won the award for "Beyond the Mountain".

This is a literary film.

Then the Best Actress, Best Actor, was awarded.

Best Actress is Double Yolk Egg, and two little beauties from Romagnia won the award.

These two people are the actresses of "Beyond the Mountain", they are both in their early twenties, which is a big upset.

Best Actor went to Max. Mickelson, his performance in "The Hunt" was so brilliant that this film directly brought him Hollywood's attention.

These awards were awarded, and there are three awards left, Best Director, the Jury Prize, and the Palme d'Or.

The atmosphere of the scene was more serious, and many filmmakers who had not yet won the award held their breath and looked forward to watching the stage.

The host told some bad jokes that drew a few small laughs, but soon fell silent.

Then the presenters announced the award for Best Director, and as Wes Anderson predicted, it was Regadas.

In the midst of warm applause, Regadas, with a pale face and sweaty forehead, clamped his legs, quickly said a few words, and then left in a hurry.

He returned to his seat, his face devoid of joy, and pressed his stomach hard.

"Hurry up, hurry up."

After winning the grand prize, Regadas no longer cares about the next awards, and just wants to end it quickly.

Jean from France at this time. Claude walked onto the stage, opened the envelope in his hand, and laughed.

"Guys, there are two more big prizes, I'm sure many of you have guesses, so let's see if there are any upsets?"

The camera gave Lee Shengyao, as well as Michael. Haneke.

Li Shengyao is still quite nervous in his heart, but he has always disliked to expose his weak side.

In friendly applause, in the kind eyes of many people.

He nodded towards the camera.

Michael. Haneke was just seventy years old, tall, thin, with white hair, and looked like he was in his eighties.

Noticing the camera, Michael pursed his lips.

Let. Claude nodded, "Okay, the two most likely candidates have already said hello, let's announce the results, the film that won the Grand Jury Prize - Love, congratulations to Michael, he won another heavyweight trophy at Cannes." ”

Warm applause to Michael. Haneke got up and went to the podium.

"I am very happy to win the Grand Jury Prize again, and I would like to thank everyone, my two old friends who worked with me on the film, the jury, the audience, and my colleagues who participated in the competition, I have seen a lot of good films in Cannes these days, especially Lee's films, which have made a special impression on me.

Thank you, you are there to make me better and Cannes even better. ”

There was another round of applause, and when Michael returned to his seat, almost everyone's eyes turned to Lee Shengyao.

At the age of thirty-two, if Parasite wins the Palme d'Or, he will set a new record.

Although four bigwigs have won two Palme d'Or before, they are all years apart, and no one can win two Palme d'Or in a row.

And Li Shengyao is still so young, the future is unimaginable.

Anyway, the Cannes Film Festival will definitely write Lee Shengyao's name.

Li Shengyao felt everyone's gaze, and he was also excited in his heart, but he was calm on the surface.

The Cannes Film Festival will also have an upset, just like the little sisters in Romagnia, who would have thought that they would be able to win the actress in their early twenties.

Nanni. Moretti doesn't like commercial films.

If you really don't get anything, let alone the scenery and scenery to receive the award, it will become a laughing stock.

At this moment, an old man with a lot of hair and a square face who looked a little silly walked onto the stage, this person is the best director of Xiban Ya today - Pedro. Almodóvar.

Almodóvar nodded to the audience, then opened the envelope.

"Congratulations to Lee for the Palme d'Or winning film – Parasite."

All eyes converged, as if with extremely high temperatures, hot feet.

Li Shengyao was nervous, and immediately stood up when he heard the words.

The lights above him were blinding, and he came back to his senses, then noticed Regadas and Wes Anderson as they got up, smiling and hugging the two of them.

"Li, in two years, the chief seal of the Cannes jury may be you, and then open the back door for me."

Wes Anderson made a joke.

Lee then strode onto the stage to receive the trophy from Almodóvar.

"Lee, you are the pride of this era."

Almodóvar said a word, and stepped aside.

Lee stood alone in the center of the stage.

The bright light, the applause of the audience came in waves, getting louder and louder.

The trophy in his hand is not very large, about the size of an adult's palm, and there is a golden palm leaf inlaid in the glass, which weighs less than half a catty.

He held the trophy as if he had seen a picture from a year ago.

When "1937" won the award, he met with "The Tree of Life" director Terrence . Malik stood on the stage together.

And now he's standing here alone.

This is a completely different feeling, two people standing here, the heart is a little empty, standing here alone, he feels a lot more down-to-earth.

He nodded, "Thank you to all the creators of Parasite, you are my close companions.

Thank you to enthusiastic viewers from all over the world, you have given me high praise for this film and given me strength.

Thank you to the organizers and the jury.

I will make more good movies.

I hope there will be a chance to stand here in the future, so let's meet in Cannes. ”

(End of chapter)