The Circuit

Two more utterly true Cannes stories.

1. Rock and roll dreams still come true, as evidenced by the happy turn of events for Italian U2 fanclub member Deborah Trimboli. After driving five hours from Torino, the university student arrived in Cannes to take her place behind the crowd barriers in front of the Cannes Palais at three p.m. -- nine hours before the Irish pop stars were scheduled to perform prior to the premiere of "u23D."
 
Around midnight, a team of Variety staffers waiting near the red carpet (along with thousands of others) spotted the fan's blue U2 baseball cap and handmade sign. After getting permission from the gendarmes charged with keeping the crowds at bay, an editor sprinted across the no man's land between red carpet and rabid fans and presented Trimboli with an extra movie pass -- the Cannes equivalent of Charlie's golden ticket. 
 
And then, when the band cranked up for its two-song set, one gendarme's steely reserve was so thoroughly cracked by Trimboli's tears of joy that he personally escorted her onto the red carpet, only feet away from the performance. When last seen, she was in her seat inside the Palais, rocking out behind 3D glasses. (Steven Gaydos)

2. A U2 fan watching the fracas from across the Croisette took a step into the street and found herself sideswept by a car, which apparently ran over her foot. Hobbled and knocked out of her shoes, she fell to the ground -- only to face another car that seemed uninterested in stopping.

It was at this point that the crowd took action, throwing themselves across the car's hood and beating the windows with their fists until it stopped. Then, as they waited for the ambulance, the good Samaritans surrounded the car and refused to let it move before the police had a chance to talk with the driver. (Variety staff)