MOJEH.com have found 10 things you didn’t know about your favourite Cannes films, from original castings to screen debuts and dramatic makeovers – the festival’s movies have more behind-the-scene surprises than the event itself.
By Jemma Walker
1. In the dark comedy The Lobster, Jason Clarke was originally cast as the protagonist, but was later replaced by Colin Farrell after having to drop out due to conflicting schedules.
2. In Mad Max: Fury Road Charlize Theron shaved her head, featuring as Furiosa the one armed, female survivor of the apocalypse; she then had to wear a wig while filming her next movie A Million Ways to Die in the West.
3. Some of the filming for The Sea of Trees took place near Mount Fuji - also known as the ‘suicide forest’. It’s rumored to be haunted by Japanese ghosts called ‘Yurei’ known for their anger at their own untimely deaths - 'Yurei' weren't the only ones moaning about Gus Van Sant's American drama.
4. Sicario translates to 'hitman' in the Spanish language.
5. Marion Cotillard replaced Natalie Portman in Macbeth, as Portman dropped out just before filming started - with the Shakespeare adaptation emerging as the thespian hit of the festival - it was a blessing in disguise.
6. Louder Than Bombs is the first Norwegian film to feature in the main competition at Cannes Film Festival in nearly 40 years.
7. Amazingly over 80 percent of the stunts, set, make-up and practical effects in the post-apocalyptic action movie Mad Max: Fury Road were done in-camera without the aid of digital post-production. CGI effects were only used to increase the realism of Charlize Theron’s character’s prosthetic hand and to enhance the landscape.
8. Palme d’Or winner Dheepan’s protagonists Dheepan played by Jesuthasan Antonythsan and Yalini played by Kalieaswari Srinivasan, both made their screen debuts in the film that won Cannes Film Festival’s most prestigious award.
9. There’s only 97 shots in Chronic which last under a minute each.
10. Film4 boss Tessa Ross fought for a staggering 11 years to get the film Carol made.
