.,,.. o ., c '" ~ FILM 11--------------- Gay faves at Cannes A checklist of the gay successes on the Croisette at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival Living celebrities were all over the place, but this year the Cannes Film Festival belonged to James Dean.</p><p> Posters sporting his image dotted the Croisette ; East of Eden and Rebel Without a Cause screened in the festival and on the beach late at night for the public.</p><p> And a documentary about Dean's life-which is included in the new DVD boxed set of his films-had a sold-out screening.</p><p> Other than Dean, who might have come out had he lived longer, lots of the festival thrills involved gay films and filmmakers.</p><p> A few highlights: 54 July 5,2005 Last Days by Gus Van Sant: This meditation on the demise of Kurt Cobain ends the nonlin ear series of art films Van Sant began with Gerry and continued with Elephant, which won the Palme D'Or in 2003.</p><p> The Museum of Modern Art in New York announced it would screen all three on July 20-a nice capper for Van Santo Where the Truth Lies by Atom Egoyan: The Canadian auteur's new mystery split critics, but everyone agreed that a very steamy lesbian encounter for Alison Lohman (not to men tion the nudity of stars Kevin Bacon and Colin Firth) would fascinate the MPAA.</p><p> Odete by Joao Pedro Rodrigue s: An almost campy Portuguese film by the director of 0 Fan tasma.</p><p> The story about a man mourning his gay lover echoes Vertigo but is most convincing when displaying the sexy cast, especially star Nuno Gil.</p><p> Time to Leave by Fran~oi s Ozon: This lovely chamber piece about a rude gay fash ion photographer who finds out he has only months to live is a return to the haunting style of Under the Sand.</p><p> Midnight Movies: From the Margin to the Main stream by Stuart Samuels: Documentary on how movies like Pink Flamingos and The Rocky Horror Picture Show changed Holly wood films.</p><p> John Waters is hilarious in interviews, but even better is the archival footage of him coaching Divine.</p><p> Volver by Pedro Almo d6var: The already leg endary Spanish director returns to comedy with stars Carmen Maura and Penelope Cruz.</p><p> And in 2006 eight Almod6- var classics-including Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Law of Desire, Bad Edu cation, and Talk to Her will be rereleased in the United States, then packaged as a DVD boxed set. -Michael Giltz
