A MizMaya post

So we watched the Cannes award show, which is very different from the Oscars. The best part was Quentin Tarantino, who had been selected as the head judge. He looked very sun-burnt and psyched to be doing what he was doing. He also looked like he didn't understand a word and was pretty much listening for his name, a little like a dog. (Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Quentin Tarantino, blah, blah, blah, blah.) He didn't seem to notice that he was speaking incredibly loud. There were all these different awards, the difference between which I could not decipher (like, the "Palme d'Or" is better than the "Grand Prix", which is better than "Prix Special", etc.). Anyway, the highlight of the evening was the Palme d'Or, which was awarded to Michael Moore for "Fahrenheit 9/11", about the connections between the Bushes and various Saudi families (including Osama bin Laden) and the lead-up to the Iraq War. I'm sure most of you have heard all the hype about this movie, which was being put out by Miramax, which is owned by Disney, but which Disney refused to distribute in the States because they're worried about losing their tax breaks in Florida, where the Bush Dynasty holds the reins. Isn't it great that the U.S. is so free from state control of the media and that freedom of speech is so respected?

Mandy and I watched as they announced the Palme d'Or, and it was amazing to see how emotional everyone in the audience was. We actually saw Quentin Tarantino wipe away tears. Michael Moore was also visibly moved, and we ourselves couldn't help but get emotional. We felt like we were really watching a piece of history take place. Michael Moore was very tasteful in his comments, and he said he hoped the award would allow the American people to be able to see the film and know the truth, which is all he really wanted. I myself can't wait to see the film (which has of course found a distributor in the U.K. early), and I hope the fact that it won is an indicator of more changes to come. I'm not in the States right now, but from everything I read and hear, it seems like people are finally fed up enough that they are getting motivated to bring about regime change. I just hope the energy being fostered by organizations like MoveOn is able to be sustained until November and that people stay engaged in politics, because governments never change anything unless the populace tells them to.

Okay, that's enough soap boxing.

I (Mandounette) would just like to add that Michael Moore announced that right before he was awarded the prize, a distribution deal for the States was offered. When will people learn that a controversy is always the best publicity…