An Unholy Trinity for the Sabbath

Cannes Day 5 Having enjoyed a "day off" in the sunshine yesterday (not fully though: I went to catch the Day After screening of Thirst), today represented a gruelling challenge. Agora, clocking in at 149 slow minutes, followed swiftly by 2 hours of Tzar, and then a break of two hours before Antichrist at 7.30pm this evening. Thank God I didnt plump for the 8.30am screening of Johny To's Vengeance as well, as I may not have been in any fit state to type anything by now. As it is, I'm tired, but mercifully the false-adrenaline of copious espressos has kick-started me. Interestingly, the festival organisers chose to show Agora, Tzar and Antichrist together on the first Sunday of the run- something I'm sure that will incense the religious element, especially considering the portrayal of Christianity in the first, and the anti-religious elements of the second (not to mention the implication of the third's title). I'm all for parity in selection, and the religious link seems a simple one to make, but is there some proverbail thumbing of collective noses in the direction of the Church going on here? Whatever: who am I to complain, I abandoned the call of the church long ago and now worship whole-heartedly at the altar of the silver screen. Look out for reviews of all three popping up in the next few hours. Highlights so far The wonderfully electric embrace of caffeine Sauntering into Agora as one of the first of the press allowed entrance. Discovering that Free Willy: South Africa is going to grace screens in the not so distant future. Small ones probably. Lowlights Cramped leg room is not exactly conducive to retaining a critical mind. How come the coughing only ever starts when the lights go off- are these people allergic to the dark? The night-before stink of alcohol on the two men on either side of me in Tzar. Sympathetic vodka drinking perhaps? I still do not understand why certain critics get up and walk out of a screening so regularly- how can anyone claim to offer a sufficient analysis if they are outside in the sunshine when 90% of the film's action is taking place? Even if I hate the film, I refuse to leave. This is a privilege and a phenomenal opportunity that I would not want to abuse.