Indeed, infamy can still be a form of fame.
However, if controversy crosses a certain line, things may spiral out of control faster than expected.
"The Brown Bunny" is a prime example.
A 0.5 rating on the official Cannes film journal was the trigger. Even in Cannes, where art is celebrated, such a one-sided score was shocking.
This enraged Vincent Gallo, who wrote, directed, starred in, and even served as the cinematographer for the film. He couldn't tolerate his work being treated like this.
So, he began a verbal spat with the critics.
Like shooting the leading bird, he targeted Roger Ebert first.
Initially, their exchanges focused on the film and professional critiques. However, it quickly escalated into a nasty, personal feud.
Vincent struck first, calling Roger "a fat pig with the physique of a slave trader."
Roger fired back, saying, "I'm fat, but one day I might be thin. However, he will always be the director of 'The Brown Bunny.'"
In just a few days, the controversy surrounding "The Brown Bunny" had stolen the spotlight at Cannes.
Anyone with a discerning eye could tell that Vincent and Roger weren't done yet.
Amusingly, the uproar over "The Brown Bunny" was so intense that it overshadowed another terrible film on the festival's last day — "The Cluzet Family."
This film, written and directed by Bertrand Blier, received overwhelmingly negative reviews and scored a record-low 0.3 in the official Cannes film journal.
But... no one cared.
All attention was on "The Brown Bunny." People quickly forgot about "The Cluzet Family," and it's hard to say if that was a good or bad thing.
Although no official count exists to confirm whether this was the worst main competition in a decade, with the overall quality being disappointingly low, it's clear that this year's main competition sparked the most debate and discussion in recent years.
The buzz was so intense that even Lars von Trier seemed to act normal.
With all the uproar and drama, "The Brown Bunny" had seized the entire festival's focus.
But wait!
What if "The Brown Bunny" wins an award in the end?
Just imagining this sends chills down the spine. Suddenly, the idea of "Dogville" winning the Palme d'Or doesn't seem so crazy.
Because of this, the last day at Cannes was particularly noisy, with everyone having their list of potential winners.
Everyone wanted the films they supported to win.
Then—
"Rumor has it that 'The Brown Bunny' crew has been recalled."
Silence.
Cannes was stunned.
The shock was so great that people forgot to curse or even get angry, just staring at each other in disbelief.
No... could it be?
"Not only were they recalled, but they might have won a major award."
The heart tightens instantly. A major award? How big? Top three? The Jury Prize?
Wait, could it be the Palme d'Or?
Seriously, it's not impossible when you think about it, especially with Patrice Chéreau as the Jury President.
Patrice Chéreau has always been bold, challenging taboos and sensitive topics. His directorial debut, "L'Homme Blessé," was considered daring.
Two years ago, "Intimacy" won the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. The film challenged audiences by telling the story of two people with families who secretly meet every Wednesday afternoon in an apartment, not talking about love, only "sex." But it all falls apart when the man starts taking an interest in the woman's life and begins following her.
Mark Rylance, who later won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in "Bridge of Spies," gave a "no-holds-barred" performance in that film.
Compared to "Intimacy," "The Brown Bunny" doesn't seem as provocative.
So, as the Jury President, Patrice Chéreau defending art and recognizing "The Brown Bunny" isn't out of the question.
This—
Cannes goes collectively insane, everyone losing their minds.
What's worse is that, usually by noon, the news is everywhere because crews need to return to Cannes to prepare for the closing ceremony's red carpet. Directors and actors should start appearing, with rumors flying around, making it the liveliest part of the day.
But this year, nothing.
Silence.
The more silent it is, the more unsettling it becomes, driving the media reporters crazy.
If "The Brown Bunny" wins the Palme d'Or and "The Cluzet Family" wins the Jury Prize, it would be shocking, akin to flipping the table.
Anger. Anxiety. Despair. Numbness. Heartbreak.
Media in Cannes went through a long ordeal until something finally happened—
Le Figaro reported, based on reliable sources, that "The Brown Bunny" crew had already left Cannes without being recalled or winning any awards.
Phew!
False alarm!
Even this bit of news made the Cannes media cheer.
From the perspective of an onlooker, if "The Brown Bunny" had won, the feud between Vincent Gallo and Roger Ebert would have continued and escalated, making for a real spectacle. The media should have fanned the flames.
However, Cannes is a bit different. Here, some things are more important.
It's not "The Brown Bunny." That's good news!
Le Figaro broke the silence, creating an opening, and Cannes finally livened up, with various rumors flooding out.
The "Distant" crew has been recalled.
"The Barbarian Invasions" crew has been recalled.
"The Five O'Clock" crew has been recalled.
After a quiet, anxious morning, the crews returned to Cannes one after another, re-energizing the media.
Then, the bombshell—
"The Elephant" crew has been recalled.
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
In the midst of the commotion, this piece of news was like a small stone thrown into a pond, instantly quieting everything down.
Gus Van Sant and two ordinary students, Alex and Eric, both returned to Cannes.
So, what does this mean?
Anson, yes, ask Anson, the crew member is here. No need to wait for rumors.
But... where's Anson?
Not long ago, he was still chatting in the Film Palace. Suddenly, he disappeared. Did he go to the restroom or the coffee shop?
After a thorough search, he was nowhere to be found. Anson had vanished.
So, what does this mean?
The next second, boom!
Complete chaos.
As Anson said, if the crew is recalled, the first thing they should do is prepare for the evening's red carpet, taking it seriously.
Anson's disappearance seems to confirm this through his actions.
So, "The Elephant" was really recalled?
The official film journal gave it a 2.1 rating, but that didn't affect its prospects. It once again showed that the jury's taste is entirely independent.
This isn't the first time, nor will it be the last, that the jury ignores the official journal to make its judgment and choice.
So, what award will "The Elephant" get?
Best Director? Or the Jury Prize?
It likely won't be for the screenplay or acting since the focus of the film isn't on those aspects. Thinking it through, the Jury Prize seems most likely... right?