Cannes Film Festival's official competition films are announced today, "Le Temps du Loup" will be in Honor Presentation. Because Patrice Chereau, who is the president of Jury this year, played a small role in the film, the film has to be ruled out of the official competition. Still, we expect that Isabelle will show up at Cannes as usual, either with Patrice Chreau or Michael Haneke.
My desire to create this website is from 2000 Cannes when I read a long interview with Isabelle during Cannes Festival. That year, she had "Les Destinées Sentimentales" in official competition and "Saint-Cyr" in "Un Certain Regard". Still remember she had marvelous appearances in the opening ceremony with German director Wim Wenders, in the film premiere with Emmanuelle Béart, Charles Berling and director Olivier Assayas.
Isabelle keeps a record of having the most films (16) in competition, plus the films in "Un Certain Regard" and "Director's Fortnight", she is one of the Cannes' habitants in history.
Isabelle won a special David di Donatell Award - Italy's top film award equivalent to Oscar in USA or Cesar in France - for her exceptional career. The ceremony was held in Sinopoli Hall of new Rome Auditorium "The Town of Music" late Wednesday, April 9th, 2003. Isabelle won David di Donatell once before: in the category of Best Foreign Actress for "The Lacemaker" in 1977.
As mentioned earlier before, Isabelle won Best Actress of Chlotrudis Awards, designated to reward independent films in USA, for "The Piano Teacher", and Public Favorite Actress for "8 Women". 2002 is really a remarkable year for Isabelle in USA since four of her films are released subsequently within the same year.
For me, there's a regret that she is not on the nomination list of France's Moliere Awards - France's National Stage Awards equivalent to Tony Awards in USA - for her highly acclaimed performance in "4.48 Psychose". She was always nominated for Moliere's Best Actress: "Un mois à la campagne" (1989), "Orlando" (1994 & 1995) and Medée (2001), but never won.
The DVD of "La Vie Promise" is newly released. It's a super luxary collection of the film (even with English subtitles!), including the interviews with Isabelle and director Olivier Dahan, a short making film and soundtrack CD of 5 numbers.
I have a friend who attended last year's San Sebastian Film Festival. She told me although many people didn't like the film (vey cold reaction at the news release conference), she was moved very much. She had a talk with Isabelle in person and knew that Isabelle loved the film and spent a lot of time promoting it, including attending the festival with the director Olivier Dahan, who wrote an email to me on upon the film release in France in September, 2002.
Directed by Portuguese actor/director Luis Miguel Cintra, Isabelle played Joan of Arc in an opera version based on Arthur Honneger's dramatic oratorio, about the French heroine of hundred years before, who died for truth, love, God and men. The spectacle was put on at Sao Carlos National Theater, one of the greatest historical theaters in Lisbon, from March 24 to 29.
Isabelle declaimed the text of French poet Paul Claudel, surrounded by a chorus, an orchestra and singers. This fresco in 11 scenes, consisting of text, music and dance, is the fruit of a close cooperation between French poet Paul Claudel and French composer Arthur Honneger. Isabelle played the principle role in French, with all-Portuguese - costar Luis Miguel Cintra, Portuguese Symphony Orchestra and British conductor Jonathan Webb. She arrived to rehearse only one week before the spectacle was put on, and already amazed the director enough - "she is such a fast person."
It's the second time that Isabelle played Joan of Arc. Last time in 1991-2, at Theater of Opéra Bastille then Opéra de Paris, Isabelle play the French herione of the theatrical version, directed by Claude Regy (who also directed her in "4.48 Psychoses" recently) . "The theater remains a form, even if it is new, need commit oneself. I still want to do it much and often", she explained in Télérama in September 2001.
Last January in Lisbon, Isabelle just played "4.48 Psychosis". This time besides the show, she also took part in several cultural events, such as a guest of the Portuguese cineclub to inaugurate a cycle of cinema devoted to Joan of Arc.
Newsday (New York)'s Jan Stuart explained why Isabelle Huppert didn't get a nomination for "The Piano Teacher".
"The reason: Sophia Loren notwithstanding, Oscar has never really believed in its heart that acting in a foreign language is real acting. Had any American or British actress appeared in three movies of the consequence of "The Piano Teacher," "8 Women" and "Merci Pour le Chocolat" in a single year, as did Huppert, they would have jumped to the head of the class of Oscar nominees. As it is, there is not a single performance in the best actress category to match Huppert's ferociously repressed music instructor in "The Piano Teacher" for intensity, precision and sheer nerve. The stalwartly brilliant Huppert may have been braver than audience members, many of whom had a hard time dealing with the out-there dysfunctional behavior of a woman who lives under the same roof as her mother far longer than any of us should have to and still keep our sanity."
On March 16th, this site was visited as twice times as usual. It has set a record - 146 unique visitors/per day - since it was first established on January 1st, 2002. Because of your supports, our site is very active recently.
I will keep Isabelle's Birthday Special on-line for a while. As we all wish her happy birthday and days after, you can continue to send your best wishes through the Birthday Special Program. We hope some day Isabelle would go to read them herself and be touched by our enthusiasm.
"French Twist"
New York Times
September 1, 2002
Sunday Edition
The Coming Events 2003.03.10
We're going to present a special program - on March 16th, Isabelle's Birthday at this website. I would like to invite each of you to come back on the day. It will be the best time to share your feelings with us and send your wishes to her. The special program will last only 24 hours, start on March 16th at 0:00 a.m. in French time (March 15th, 6:00 p.m. ET in USA) and end at following midnight. Do not miss it!
Although Isabelle has received exceptional recognition - four films released in USA last year, she missed most of the film awards. However, some are still ongoing, such as 9th Annual Chlotrudis Awards in the Boston area, in which Isabelle is nominated Best Actress for "Piano Teacher" and Best Supporting Actress for "8 Femmes". This is A film award designed for independent film. You actually can cast your ballot through the Internet. The winners will be announced on March 15th. Besides this one, Isabelle is also nominated Best Actress in 02 Film BiTCH Awards, which will be announced on March 16th.
Wish Isabelle would be lucky and happy in the rest of the year.
This site does not have any affinities to Isabelle Huppert
officials
Every word written and
complied here is simply from the souls of her honest fans, and their fantasies
on this respectful and great actress in the world.
