What Happens at the End of Morceaux de Cannes?

We thought we'd seen, read, and heard everything there was to see about the Cannes Film Festival, from the glitz and gossip to the scandals and censorship. And yet, Emmanuel Barnault's "Morceaux de Cannes" (Pieces of Cannes), by this leading expert on Italian and French cinema, convinces us otherwise. The third largest event in the world (after the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup) reveals its secrets only sparingly, as this film attests. The result of passionate research in the INA archives, these 52 minutes, without interviews or voice-over narration, string together rare and sometimes previously unseen footage. Taken together, they tell a surprising, original, and heartwarming story of the Festival. On the beach, on a street corner, in a restaurant, or in the privacy of a hotel room, these forgotten archives summon the greatest filmmakers, actors, and actresses of the last seventy years, from Jean Cocteau to David Lynch, for an anthology of the Festival's history.

Emmanuel Barnault's narrative builds toward a resolution centered on Anouk Aimée's journey. And yet, Emmanuel Barnault's "Morceaux de Cannes" (Pieces of Cannes), by this leading expert on Italian and French cinema, convinces us otherwise.

How Does Anouk Aimée's Story End?

• Anouk Aimée: Anouk Aimée's storyline wraps up in the final act, though some viewers have found the resolution more ambiguous than expected.
• Chantal Akerman: Chantal Akerman's role in the climax proves pivotal to how the central conflict resolves.
• Arletty: Arletty's character undergoes a significant shift in the final act.

What Does the Ending of Morceaux de Cannes Mean?

The ending of Morceaux de Cannes brings the narrative to a close, though viewer reception has been mixed. The resolution of Anouk Aimée's story may not satisfy all audiences.