THE CIRCUIT: CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

In indieWIRE's write-up of the National Society of Film Critics honors, which gave best pic to docu "Waltz with Bashir," included this paragraph:

The group chose Ari Folman's animated documentary -- about the atrocities that young members of the Israeli army witnessed during the early 80s Lebanon War -- on the day that Israeli ground troops launched an attack on Hamas in Gaza. Sony Pictures Classics opened the anti-war film in U.S. theaters last week.

FishbowlLA blog, reading a bit too much into the award's timing, stirred things up:

The National Society of Film Critics, normally an apolitical bunch, decided to make a stand against Israel on the same day that the embattled nation launched a ground attack on Hamas in Gaza.

While the editors did change some wording in the story (The Circuit didn't read the original version), Eugene Hernandez clarified it before the post got out of hand:

I certainly didn't write that the critics took a political stance, nor was I intending to do so. Rather, I was trying to note that numerous people yesterday noted the topicality of the group awarding "Bashir" the prize on the same day of the ground invasion.

French actress Isabelle Huppert will serve as Jury President of the 62nd Festival du Cannes.

"I am very glad and very proud," said Huppert. "I've had a long relationship with Cannes and this next meeting will definitely seal my love for the Festival and thus for global cinema."

Over the years, Huppert has come to the festival more than twenty five times -- as an awards presenter, jury member, symposium head, and with films in or out of competition.  She won Best Actress at the fest for "The Piano Teacher" (2001) and "Violette Noziere" (1978).

Cannes will unspool May 13-24, 2009.

In advance of "Synecdoche, New York's" opening this weekend, the Montalban Gallery is presenting "Small Miracles: The Paintings of Adele Lack."  Catherine Keener inhabits Lack in the movie, pictured below.

The gallery will supply magnifying instruments to view the 27 micro paintings.

From the gallery notes:

Adele Lack (1965- ) was born and raised in New York. Her first major show would not be until she reached the age of 41 when she would first bring her work to Berlin. Lack’s paintings were once again on display for her next major show at Kunst Galerie. Adele Lack: Anstriche consisted of one inch paintings where visitors were given magnifying glasses to fully see the details of the paintings. Her innovations in scale and content have proven her to be an important contemporary artist.

The show runs October 21-26 at The Montalbán Gallery, 1615 Vine Street, Hollywood, CA  90028.  T: 323-461-0663

Regent has nabbed North American rights to Kiyoshi Kurosawa's "Tokyo Sonata," winner of Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at Cannes. 

"Tokyo Sonata" will have its US preem at the New York Film Festival on October 9.  Regent will open the film in the US in early 2009.

The distrib also recently got "Serbis" during Toronto.

The Onion's AV Club has a primer on Woody Allen.  "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" opens today.

Right from the start, Allen established a comedic persona that would more or less stretch through every phase of his career. Yes, he has depths of intellect and melancholy that don't surface [in 1969's "Take the Money and Run"], but other elements are firmly in place: The runaway neuroses, the merciless self-deprecation, the bumbling physical hijinks, the ongoing feelings of romantic and sexual inadequacy.

Check out our Woody Allen lunch from Cannes 2008.  Woody didn't touch a thing on his plate: