Cannes, its red carpet, its stars, its parties, its prizes… and this “parallel” trophy, which never goes unnoticed: the Palm Dog, by Dogamì.
This prize created more than 20 years ago by Toby Rose, a completely crazy British film critic, was awarded this Friday to the favorite, Beast, the superb poodle from the film War Pony.
Initially a parody, this trophy has nevertheless managed to become a small must-have on the Croisette.
Rewarding a canine performance on the big screen, is it crazy?
Not that much !
Already because many more films than you think include one or more dogs in their script.
And depending on the importance of the role, it will have taken a preliminary casting, preparation time and of course filming.
On the other hand, this distinction is also a way of glorifying and talking about the essential place of dogs in our society and in our daily lives.
“Is he serious or is he funny, I don't know!
»
Who's deciding ?
An international jury of six journalists.
As part of their classic work as film critics, they watch all the films screened at Cannes: the films in competition, the Directors' Fortnight or the Un Certain Regard selection.
As soon as a film features a dog (beyond a simple appearance of course), it is included in the films eligible for the Palm Dog.
The choice is then made according to criteria such as the dimension of the role, the underwear that will have been necessary for the animal to embody it, and the obvious complicity between the dog and the man.
Peter Bradshaw, renowned film critic of The Guardian, has been on the jury for many years: “However, I never know how to describe this award.
Is he serious or is he funny, I don't know!
".
Read alsoIn dogs, the breed does not make the behavior!
This year, six films could really compete within the Palm Dog, among which the biopic Elvis, Masquerade by Nicolas Bedos or Godland.
Finally, it was Beast, the dog from the film War Pony, directed by Riley Keough and Gina Gammell, who won the day.
The story takes place on a Native American reservation in the state of South Dakota, in the United States, where young people compete in ingenuity to find lucrative adult activities.
One of them chooses to embark on the breeding of royal poodles, thanks to a dog, Beast, marvelously interpreted by Britney.
The star dog is a real red thread in the film, fueling the rivalry between the young protagonists.
This is the second edition in which a poodle has been crowned, the previous one dating back to 2013 for Baby Boy, in the film My life with Liberace,
The jury agrees on its choice the day before the ceremony, and there, it is the beginning of the commotion for Yoann Latouche, the organizer.
“We contact the members of the film;
this year, the directors intervened in video, they were no longer present in Cannes.
As for the dog, you can imagine that it is complicated to bring the winning dog to the Croisette, so we have less than 24 hours to find… its look-alike”.
Mission accomplished hands down, it was not one, but two royal poodles (one white and one black, Gulietta and Rapunzel) who took the stage to represent Britney and receive the cheers of a conquered audience.
Crus more obvious than others
Some vintages are more striking than others depending on the editions, but what is certain is that the Palm Dog by Dogamì has really made a name for itself.
Toby Rose is delighted with a comparison to the hair: "It's like going from a Chihuahua to a Rodhesian Ridgeback".
And some years, the choice is obvious!
When in 2011, The Artist, by Michel Hazanavicius, joined the films in competition, the dog Uggie easily won the Palm Dog (moreover, since then, he has received, posthumously, the Palm Dog from the Palm Dogs of last 20 years).
Ditto when, in 2018, a film from the official selection is called Dogman and has a dog groomer as its main role.
Of course, the dogs do not receive their prize “in person”.
Director, producer or actor represent them.
In 2019,
Quentin Tarantino thus came in place of Brandy, the pit bull dog from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
It must be said that the dog played a decisive role in the scenario (spoiler alert), even saving Brad Pitt at the end of the film.
As for last year, Oscar-winning actress Tilda Swinton portrayed the award-winning Springer Spaniel in the film she portrayed, The Souvenir, Part II.
This year, note that a special prize was awarded to a dog who distinguished himself not in a film but in a war zone: Patron, the Jack Russel specialized in mine detection and who became a national hero in Ukraine.
Like what, even in an offbeat ceremony, we are no less committed!
