Women sweep the San Sebastian Festival and the Romanian ‘Blue Moon’ wins the Golden Shell

The San Sebastian Film Festival He was facing two controversies this year. One, the Donostia Award for Johnny Depp, which promised more storm and in the end he was left alone in a storm surge with a press conference where questions were asked about the actor’s alleged mistreatment of his ex-partner. The second was the one that concerned the decision of the eliminate gender difference in performance award. Many feminist associations complained showing their fear that by uniting the awards, women would be left in the background, especially when the industry is not yet equal and does not offer the same opportunities to men and women.

The list of winners delivered by the jury of this 69th edition, chaired by the director Dea Kulumbegashvili, and formed by the filmmakers Maite Alberdi and Audrey Diwan, the actress Susi sanchez and the producer Ted Hope somehow settled the controversy with a list of winners where women won each and every one of the categories, starting with the most important, the Golden Shell, what went to Alina Grigore, Romanian actress who with Blue Moon makes his directing debut.

A film that had polarized the press but that in its portrayal of toxic masculinities and abuses of the patriarchy from a radical and authorial perspective has convinced the jury. It wasn’t among the favorites, and neither was it Earwig, another film that had completely divided the critics. A masterpiece for some, too cryptic and focused on the aesthetic experience for others. Either way, they have recognized their director, Lucile Hadzihalilovic with the Jury Prize. For the best direction, another woman and another newcomer, the Danish Tea Lindeburg. This one was in all pools for As in heaven, another portrait of how machismo has suffocated generations of women.

And now we come to the award in question, the one everyone was waiting for, the Silver Shell for Best Performance. Point. Without adjectives. Neither masculine nor feminine. Best Performance. All eyes were here. Whatever happened there would be controversy. If the chosen one was a man, it would be said that the elimination of the gender distinction erases women. If the chosen one was a woman, some would point out that the jury has acted in an ‘activist’ way. Many speculated an ex aequo for a man and a woman. That way they wouldn’t have to get wet.

What seemed clear is that this award, this year, would have the name of Javier Bardem. His interpretation in The good boss it was so emphatic, so perfect, and so huge that no one thought that someone else could enter the equation. Not just one entered, but two entered. And two women to complete the Zinemaldia female reporter. The young protagonist of As in heaven, Flora Ophelia Hofmann Lindahl shared the appreciation with Jessica Chastain, who visited the festival on the last day with Tammy Faye’s eyes and stayed to put the drop of glamor to the closing. The actress of The darkest night begins her Oscar career in a film produced by her and tailor-made to win awards. Every frame screams it, and sometimes it even works against him.

Even the award for best photography, one of the sectors with the greatest gender gap and where women are still a very small percentage, was female. The winner was Claire Mathon, one of the best cinematographers of the moment who stood out two years ago thanks to her work in Portrait of a woman on fire, and that in 2021 he takes this award for Undercover, the same course where he has also worked again with Celine Sciamma on Little mom and with Pablo Larrain on Spencer.

The best films of this edition or they left empty, such as The good boss, or settled for lesser prizes. The script was for Benediction, from Terence Davies, little reward for this complex and unearthly antiwar plea that recounts the poet’s life Siegfried Sassoon. The award for the best supporting performance for all the lads of Who It prevents it, the best film seen in the Official Selection. An award that, in some way, recognizes the incredible work of Jonah Trueba, but that is scarce for a free, magical and novel film. To compensate, the film reporters did recognize the film with el Fierce Zinemaldia. Thus closes one of the best editions in years, with an official section of a very high level and with a track record that will have to talk.

Complete honors

Golden Shell: Blue Moon

Silver Shell (Best Director): As in heaven

Jury Prize: Earwig

Best Performance: Jessica Chastain, por Tammy Faye’s eyes and Flora Ofelia Hofmann Lindahl, for As in heaven.

Best Supporting Performance: the entire team of actors and actresses Who prevents.

Best screenplay: Benediction

Best Cinematography: Undercover

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