法國當地時間5月17日，第59屆戛納國際電影節在法國戛納開幕。戛納電影節藝術總監泰瑞·法穆介紹說，本屆電影節與往年最大的不同在于——今年的參展影片很多都是“新面孔”。同時，近幾年，亞洲影片也開始受到評委們的重視和青睞。在本屆戛納影展中，舉足輕重的兩位華裔電影人——導演王家衛和女星章子怡，也已先后抵達戛納，準備參與為期12天的評審。

Filmmakers, celebrities and the international media will descend on the French Riviera for the "grand dame" of the international film festival circuit: the 2006 Cannes Film Festival, which kicks off on May 17. The 12-day festival has undergone a big change in its character over time. In its first three decades, it used to showcase Hollywood and Europe (particularly France), their stars and products (with a rare, occasional nod to Asian Cinema).  Gradually, the Asian Cinema began to get noticed at Cannes, and now it is getting more than a look-in. As Cannes festival director, Thierry Fremaux admitted in an interview on the eve of this year's festival saying, "from an artistic point, a great festival can no longer exist without Asian films. From the point of view of the industry, professionals come in ever greater numbers to the Festival." Chinese film-director Wong Kar Wai is heading the 9-member Feature-film Jury at Cannes. Wong, 46, some of whose films have done the festival-circuit in India, belongs to the latest wave of Chinese directors. This time there is no one from India on any of the official juries at Cannes. However, in the main jury, there are some names Indian filmgoers would be familiar with. One Jury member whose presence could be of special interest to some back home is Monica Bellucci. The 41-year old Italian actress is reportedly being wooed by NRI producer, Jagmohan Mundhra to play the title role of Sonia Gandhi in his proposed biopic on the Indian Congress party president. Mundhra is also expected to be in Cannes for a private showing of his latest movie, "Provoked", based on the travails of a battered Indian housewife in Britain. (China Daily)

Vocabulary:

kicks off: 原指（足球等）中線開球，后引申為“開始”。 showcase: 展示 look-in: 依據上下文，與前句的get noticed（受到關注）同義，暗示“成功的機會（很大）”。