Polanski’s ‘The Palace’ Being Considered For Cannes or Venice

Elsa Kesslassy’s recent piece titled “Is Roman Polanski’s New Film ‘The Palace’ Going to Cannes or Venice?,” for Variety, has a few neat tidbits buried in the lede.

As I had mentioned last month, Polanski’s “The Palace” currently has an April 6th release date in Italy. If the film keeps this date then a Cannes world premiere would be very unlikely.

Keslassy has learned that “The Palace” is being considered by both the Cannes and Venice selection committees. If chosen by either of these festivals, then the April release date would be moved, presumably to the fall.

But RAI Cinema chief Paolo Del Brocco told Variety that the Italian release date is not cast in stone.” He also didn’t rule out a Cannes premiere for the film. So, they are clearly aiming for a festival run.

Polanski, who is now 89 years old, has had his last five films premiering at festivals. Cannes (“Based on a True Story,” “Venus in Fur”); Venice (“An Officer and a Spy,” “Carnage”); and Berlin (“The Ghost Writer”). The problem for him, and this latest film, is that things have radically changed since then.

Cannes boss Thierry Fremaux already has the headache of including Woody Allen’s 50th movie, which is set in Paris and was shot in French. I don’t think he can say no to that one. It’s much “easier” saying no to Polanski given that the filmmaker’s reputation in France isn’t as positive as Allen’s these days. The Polish filmmaker is embroiled in a couple of sexual abuse allegations that have made him a marked man in that country.

Venice, on the other hand, would make more sense since Polanski premiered his last film there, 2019’s “An Officer and a Spy” and even won the Grand Jury Prize. It would be a much better fit than going to Cannes, where some press and audiences would surely be awaiting Polanski with sharpened knives.

“The Palace” cost $17 million to make and stars John Cleese, Mickey Rourke and Fanny Ardant. The movie is said to take place at a palace in Gstaad on New Year’s Eve in 1999, with “Hotel guests coming from all over the world flock to the lavish dinner party, but the celebrations take an unexpected turn.”