Film Directed From Prison (Press, 28 May 1982)

At the 1982 Cannes Film Festival, the prestigious Golden Palm award was shared between the American film "Missing," directed by Greek-born Frenchman Costa-Gavras, and the Turkish film "Yol," directed by Yilmaz Guney and Serif Goren. "Missing" tells the poignant story of a father's desperate search for his journalist son who vanished during the Chilean coup d'état in 1973, and was a strong contender for the award. Costa-Gavras, aged 48, has recently assumed the role of head of the French National Film Library, reputed to be one of the finest film collections worldwide. Jack Lemmon, who portrayed the father in "Missing," was awarded the best actor accolade. "Yol," which focuses on four Turkish prisoners released on parole for one week, was directed by Guney while he was serving a 19-year prison sentence for the murder of a public prosecutor. Guney, who escaped from prison the previous October, was present at Cannes for the film's screening but left via a private airplane after the Turkish government requested his extradition. The Turkish Foreign Ministry launched a formal protest, demanding Guney's return, as he had been sentenced in absentia to an additional seven and a half years for publishing communist propaganda. His appearance in Cannes drew significant media attention in Turkey. The Grand Prix Special du Jury, the festival's runner-up prize, went to "La Notte di San Lorenzo" (The Night of San Lorenzo) by Italian directors Paulo and Vittorio Taviani. Set during the 1944 American invasion of Italy, the film is based on the brothers' personal experiences in Tuscany during that time. Best actress was awarded to Polish actress Yadwiga Jankowska-Cieslak for her role in Hungarian director Karoly Makk’s "Another Way," where she plays a steadfast lesbian journalist during the tumultuous years following 1956. The best director award was given to West German filmmaker Werner Herzog for "Fitzcarraldo," noted for its inspirational storytelling and ambitious production, which took place under challenging conditions in Peru. Additionally, the jury recommended a special thirty-fifth anniversary award for Michelangelo Antonioni’s "Identificazione di una Donna" (Identification of a Woman), recognising the consistent relevance and depth of his work. French cinematographer Bruno Nuytten received an award for his artistic contributions to Peter del Monte's "Invitation au Voyage." Overall, the festival showcased a diverse range of films and celebrated significant achievements in global cinema.

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