Victor Erice’s “Close Your Eyes” was one of the best films of this year’s Cannes lineup. In fact, people were puzzled by its absence from the main competition. What happened? It’s Erice first fiction film in over 40 years. It was greatly anticipated.
Erice has published a letter in Spanish outlet El Pais to counter my previous article, which said that the Cannes selection committee selected the film without having seen it.
Erice says that he sent a "work in progress" on Quicktime format to Fremaux, but without the final grading and mix, on March 24. He goes on to add that Directors Fortnight sidebar wanted it as their opening film, but that he was waiting for a sign from Frémaux to tell him if film was in competition or not.
Then Frémaux‘s press conference happened in April, Venice and Locarno also wanted the film, but Frémaux didn't contact him before the lineup announcement so Erice was blindsided by the decision and couldn't send the film elsewhere.
This is why Erice decided not to go to Cannes, to protest the absence of dialogue he had with Frémaux. It wasn’t because this master is 83, but rather because he is genuinely angry. His film only had one screening on the Croisette, the second one was at a multiplex a lengthy bus ride away from the festivities.
I’m puzzled that “Close Your Eyes” isn’t in competition and that duds like “Club Zero,” “Banel et Adama” and “Firebrand.” It’s a bewildering decision and this film deserves so much better.
The film has just picked up the audience award at the London Film Festival, adding to a collection that already includes audience prizes at Toronto, San Sebastián, Busan, Sydney and Middleburg.