At Cannes, vivid and violent films figure prominently
While the famed festival kicks off with Disney-Pixar's 'Up,' other titles are far less fanciful.
In this image released by Disney/Pixar Films, animated character Carl Fredricksen is shown in a scene from the film, "Up.
Disney/Pixar/AP
Cannes, France
A priest-turned-vampire, a prison face-off with gang members, Nazi hunters, and a killer obsessed with revenge aren't exactly the characters or situations that leap to mind when thinking of the Cannes film festival. Yet these and other vivid, potentially blood-soaked themes are at the center of some of the films at Cannes' 62nd competition, which launched Wednesday with the world premiere of "Up," Disney-Pixar's fanciful animated adventure about an elderly widower's escape from modern life.
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Much of the media's attention has focused on the plethora of major auteurs lined up by Cannes' festival director Thierry Frémaux – from Quentin Tarantino ("Inglourious Basterds") and Jane Campion ("Bright Star") to Michael Haneke ("The White Ribbon") and Alain Resnais ("Les Herbes Folles").
But other factors, such as the pulpy nature of many of the entries in the competition and parallel sections, may dominate conversations along the Croisette, Cannes' bustling beachside promenade.
The presence of the "grands names" is undeniable. But whether they or one of the several directors looking for their first Palm will get the nod from the competition jury is the subject of much intrigue.
The face-off will be between previous Palm winners Tarantino, Campion, Ken Loach, and Lars von Trier versus Palm-less competition stalwarts Haneke, Resnais, Pedro Almodovar, Ang Lee, Marco Bellocchio, and Tsai Ming-liang.
