"Grace of Monaco" screened for the press early Wednesday ahead of its evening premiere and was met with some of the worst reviews for a Cannes opener.Reporters had wondered if Weinstein would spurn the premiere, causing him to issue a statement Wednesday saying he was traveling on a long-planned trip. He wished Dahan the cast "all the best" for the screening.
Princess Stephanie of Monaco has criticized the film about her parents as inaccurate. (It's labeled "a fictional account inspired by real events.") She has refused to see the movie, judging it by its script. Kidman called the circumstance "awkward."
"Obviously I feel sad because I think the film has no malice toward the family," said Kidman. The festival jury, which decides the prestigious Palme d'Or award, is headed this year by Jane Champion, the only female filmmaker to win the Palme (for "The Piano" in 1993).