The Cannes Film Festival is never without some bit of controversy, whether it’s from the movies themselves, or comments made by the filmmakers. And 2016 is turning out to be no different, although this time around, the chatter is coming from someone who won’t be on the Croisette.
Emir Kusturica is no stranger to Cannes, winning the Palme d’Or twice for "When Father Was Away On Business" and "Underground." And in total, he has presented six films at the festival, so it is a bit surprising his latest, "On The Milky Road," was nowhere to be found when the lineup was announced. And he’s got a theory why, claiming his support of Russian president Vladimir Putin chilled his chances of being selected for Cannes, claiming organizers didn’t even watch his submitted film.
"Lately, politics has more and more often interfered with the way the Cannes Film Festival works," he told Russian News Service (via THR). "I have suspicions that someone gave an order that my film shouldn’t be accepted."
Starring the director himself along with Monica Bellucci, Maria Darkina, Sloboda Micalovic, and Davor Janjic, "On The Milky Road" is based on Kusturica’s segment from the anthology film "Words With Gods," and tells a three-part story about the life of a man who goes from milkman to monk.
There’s been no comment yet from Cannes honcho Thierry Frémaux, and it’ll be interesting to see what his response is. "On The Milky Road" is scheduled to screen in August at the Bridge of Arts festival in Rostov-on-Don in Russia.