FAVOURITE FRENCH ROMANTIC
ON CANNES-2025 POSTER!

 

Glad to see that pictures of my favourite French romantic classic 'A Man and a Woman' (1966) on the poster of this '78th Cannes Film Festival', 2025! It may be tribute to this 'Palme d'Or' winner film which is completing 60 years!

Beautiful Anouk Aimee & Jean-Louis Trintignant in..
'Un Homme Et Une Femme' ('A Man and a Woman'/1966).

I already wrote a lot on this one of my most favourite romantic French films..'Un Homme Et Une Femme' ('A Man and a Woman'/1966). This unconventional and matured film is written-produced & directed by renowned French filmmaker Claude Lelouch!

This film is about a young widow and widower who meet at their children's boarding school and whose budding relationship is complicated by the memories of their spouses! Beautiful Anouk Aimee and Jean-Louis Trintignant portrayed this romantic lead sensibly with Pierre Barouch, Valerie Lagrange & Antoine Sire!

Lelouch himself nicely cinematographed this film on the screenplay which he wrote with Pierre Uytterhoeven. And also himself edited the film with Claude Barrois! Francis Lai nicely composed its music & theme song which superbly sung by Nicole Croisille & Pierre Barouh!

Renowned French filmmaker Claude Lelouch of..
'Un Homme Et Une Femme' ('A Man and a Woman'/1966)

This commercially very successful film was screened in various prestigious international film festivals & won several awards. It includes 'Palme d'Or' at '19th Cannes Film Festival' and 'Best Foreign Language Film' & 'Best Writing' awards of 'Oscar'! In addition to this Anouk Aimee won 'Best Actress' of 'Golden Globe'!!

Lelouch completed its trilogy with two more films..'A Man and a Woman: 20 Years Later' in 1986 and 'The Best Years of a life' in 2019..with same lead artists!

I remember nice meeting with its filmmaker Claude Lelouch at our 'International Film Festival of India'..more than 25 years ago!!

Its theme song "Chabadabada.." with intense romantic scenes..still lingering in mind!

- Manoj Kulkarni

It's a picture of great director Roberto Rossellini's 'Rome, Open City' (1945)..most important early film from 'Italian Neo-Realism' genre!

Now 80 years are over, but its scene/quote is still contemporary!!

- Manoj Kulkarni

SHAJI KARUN NO MORE!

 

It is sad that renowned cinematographer & filmmaker of Malayalam Cinema..Shaji N. Karun passed away!

I remember the first interaction to him during my 'Film Appreciation Course' at FTII in 1989. His first directorial film 'Piravi' was screened in it and its neo-realist treatment made powerful impact!

After that I have watched his films in festivals like our main 'IFFI'. His cinema depicted human emotions & struggle like in 'Piravi' (1988) and 'Swaham'(1994). Most of the time this was shown on the backdrop of Kerala's culture and performing arts like in 'Vanaprastham' (1999) legendary Mohanlal co-produced & intensely acted and in 'Swapaanam' (2014).

Shaji Karun's films got state, national awards & international recognition in film festivals like London, Chicago & Cannes! He was the first chairman of 'Kerala State Chalachitra Academy'. He got 'Padma Shri' award and..few days back he was honoured with 'J. C. Daniel Award' for lifetime contribution to Malayalam Cinema!

I still remember meeting Shaji Karun in film festivals like in 'IFFI' at Trivandrum and other cities! He was very soft spoken & down to earth person!

My humble homage to him!!

- Manoj Kulkarni