Cannes
Do The star of the Côte d’Azur holds court to the
stars of the world.
By
Romy de Courtay
The famous Boulevard de La Croisette.
Scenes from the 2005 Cannes Film Festival, clockwise
from top left: Elton John with Salma Hayek; January
Jones; Sharon Stone with Jonathan Rhys-Meyers.
Penelope Cruz, Hilary Swank. Jessica Alba.
Woody Allen with Scarlett Johansson.
Kevin Bacon, Rachel Blanchard and Colin Firth.
The Hotel Martinez’s ZPlage.
A view of the Mediterranean from the Carlton.
For
the past 60 years, movie professionals, movie stars and movie
buffs have descended on the French Riviera to participate
in the most photographed film event in the world: the
Cannes International Film Festival. For 12 hectic
days, the rich and famous – accompanied by their staff,
security, confidantes and hangers-on – engage in showmanship,
one-upmanship and deal making. Their larger-than-life images
broadcast on a giant screen, the stars ascend the famous stairs
leading up to the sprawling Palais des Festivals et
des Congrès, waving and smiling at cheering
tourists and locals hoping to catch a glimpse, a snapshot
or a smile.
There is no place in the world like Cannes during the film
festival. But this seaside community barely ten miles square
is also a prized destination welcoming over two million visitors
annually, in town for the Horse Festival – International
Jumping, the Grand Prix de Monaco
weekend, the Boat Show and Royal
Regattas, and an endless round of oversized fairs
including MIDEM (music), MIPTV
(television), MIPIM (real estate), the International
Festival of Publicity Films and the Cannes
Shopping Festival.
Four palace hotels dotting the endlessly arcing Boulevard
de la Croisette, 17 four-star hotels, three casinos
and four ports welcoming the world’s most spectacular
private yachts such as Paul Allen’sOctopus and Larry Ellison’sRising Sun cater to this endless stream of high spenders
and gawkers. Guests book their rooms a year in advance at
the Majestic Barrière, whose Villa
des Lys restaurant won a second Michelin Guide star
in 2005, thanks to delicacies like homemade Brittany lobster
ravioli with almond and pesto sauce and a 30,000-strong
wine list. French actor and winemaker Gérard
Depardieu likes to eat in the kitchen with young
chef Bruno Oger, while downing one of his
own vintages.
The mammoth Hôtel Martinez, also in
Art Deco style, harbors 412 rooms and suites (where white
peonies always await Catherine Deneuve),
two 500m apartments with panoramic terraces, the only Givenchy
Spa in France, and the two-Michelin-star La
Palme d’Or restaurant, redecorated in 2003
for its 20th anniversary. Fast friends Penelope Cruz
and Salma Hayek were among those who danced
the night away at the 2005 festival closing-night party at
ZPlage, the hotel’s new private beach
concept, offering a fruit- and plant-based menu and cocktails
and a Givenchy massage cabin.
With brand-new 7th-floor suites named after silver screen
legends, including Sean Connery, Alain Delon
and Sophie Marceau (who often stays in hers
when in town), the InterContinental Carlton
is a movie star in its own right. Not only has its Art Nouveau
visage starred in To Catch a Thief and French
Kiss, but rumor has it that more international contracts
are signed here during the festival than anywhere else since
all the major U.S. producers stay here. Official festival
sponsor Chopard’s Trophée Chopard,
awarded each year to the most promising young talents and
followed by the famous Fête Noire attended
by the likes of Sharon Stone, Elton John
and Diane Kruger, takes place here and at
the adjoining Nikki Beach by Chopard.
Andy Garcia and Jet Lee
have been known to favor the Noga Hilton,
the newest palace whose chrome, glass and marble décor
built in 1992 offers a panoramic pool, four restaurants and
the Grand Bleu bar featuring tapas and live
music in the evening.
For luxurious seclusion, however, the stars retreat to the
legendary Hôtel du Cap-Eden Roc, nestled
among 25 acres of woodland at the tip of nearby Cap
d’Antibes. Madonna has enjoyed the spectacular
suite on the rocks and many an industry event is held at the
Eden Roc restaurant offering breathtaking
views of the Côte d’Azur.
Over at the Moulin de Mougins in the hills
north of Cannes, icons and socialites mingle, sparkle and
bid heavily at Cinema Against AIDS. Now in
its 13th edition, the most prized party of the year has raised
over $15 million for AIDS research while offering such memorable
moments as Sharon Stone dancing to an impromptu performance
by Elton John and Ringo Starr.
Back on the Croisette, opportunities abound to spend
the millions of dollars earned on movie sets at the designer
flagships, including Hermès, Chanel, Christian
Dior and Louis Vuitton as well as
at the new Valentino, Ferragamo, Ralph Lauren, H.
Stern and Dolce & Gabbana boutiques.
Directly parallel, the rue d’Antibes
is a paradise for specialty boutiques such as Jacques
Loup for shoes, Trabaud for men’s
couture and Satellite for trendy semi-precious
and costume jewelry. At the family-run Louis Julian
& Fils, Clint Eastwood, Tony Curtis and colossal
fortunes that cannot be named have picked up jewels by Chopard
and Chaumet and watches by Rolex,
Zenith and Jaeger-LeCoultre.
Spent by so much heavy spending, the movie crowd replenishes
its calories at the chic Fouquet’s
brasserie at the Majestic Barrière, Le Voilier
for French cuisine, Astoux et Brun for fantastic
mussels, Farfalla for delicious salads and
fish, Le Tantra restaurant lounge, and Oriental-themed Le
Harem, complete with belly dancers and narguilé.
Among the picturesque streets of old town Le Suquet,
Le Mantel offers incredible risotto and Le
Maschou delights carnivores with grilled meat specialties.
At Le 7, thrill-seekers enjoy a transvestite
cabaret show that harkens to La Cage aux Folles. Back at Cap
d’Antibes, Le Bacon is worth the detour
for the most expensive and delicious bouillabaisse on the
planet.
Meanwhile, Scarlett Johansson, Brad Pitt and
Quentin Tarantino enjoy fusion cuisine and
party until dawn at the two terraces of terminally hip Le
Bâoli. Bono, a regular, was once politely turned
away because his casual attire did not meet the dress code;
he went home, changed, and came back. Also at the tip of the
Croisette, Milla Jovovitch tucks into the
exotic cuisine of L’Atelier at the Palm Beach
Casino, while gazing at the beautiful Lerins
Islands from the huge terrace.
The 59th edition of the International Film Festival will open
with The Da Vinci Code, directed by golden boy Ron
Howard and starring Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou
and Jean Reno. From May 17 to 28, Cannes
will once again take center place on the world’s stage,
shining as brightly in our imagination as the cinema’s
most beautiful stars.
Dining Astoux et Brun
25 rue Félix Faure;
+33 (0) 4 93 39 21 87 Fouquet’s
Majestic Barrière, 10, La Croisette;
+33 (0) 4 92 98 77 05 Le Mantel
22 Rue Saint Antoine;
+33 (0) 4 93 39 13 00 Le Maschou
15 rue Saint Antoine;
+33 (0) 4 93 39 62 21 La Palme d’Or
Hotel Martinez, 73, La Croisette;
+33 (0) 4 92 98 74 14 Le Voilier
61, La Croisette; +33 (0) 4 93 94 26 82 Villa des Lys
Majestic Barrière,10, La Croisette;
+33 (0) 4 92 98 77 00
Shopping Chopard
9, La Croisette; +33 (0) 4 92 98 07 07 Ferragamo
40, La Croisette; www.ferragamo.com Louis Julian & Fils
71, rue d’Antibes;
+33 (0) 4 93 39 30 68 Valentino
55, La Croisette; +33 (0) 4 93 94 16
Nightlife Farfalla
1, La Croisette; +33 (0) 4 93 68 93 00 Le Bâoli
Port Pierre Canto – La Croisette;
+33 (0) 4 93 43 03 43 Le Grand Bleu
Noga Hilton, 50, La Croisette;
+33 (0) 4 92 99 70 00 Le Harem
15 rue des Frères;
+33 (0) 4 93 39 62 70 Le Loft
13 rue du Docteur Monod;
+33 (0) 4 93 39 40 39 Le Tantra
13 rue du Docteur Monod;
+33 (0) 4 93 39 40 39
Casinos Casino Barrière de Cannes Croisette
1, Esplanade Lucien Barrière;
+33 (0) 4 92 98 78 00 Casino Barrière Les Princes
50, La Croisette; +33 (0) 4 97 06 18 50 Palm Beach Casino
Place Franklin Roosevelt;
+33 (0) 4 97 06 36 90
Romy
de Courtay is a Paris-based freelance fashion and lifestyle
writer whose articles have appeared in international publications,
including Elle Décor, Maison & Décoration,
Town & Country, Odyssey and Elite Traveler.
