Written By: Hope Bassey
Oscars’ cooler, moodier cousin just issued a red carpet sit-at-home order. But this time, the target wasn’t a movement, it was fabric. Or, well, the lack of it.
With just 24 hours’ notice before celebrities descended on the French Riviera, organizers banned naked dresses and the big, billowing gowns some celebs use to live out their Disney princess dreams. Cannes said, “Not today, darlings.”
The irony? This is a festival that’s never flinched at nudity on screen. But now it’s suddenly clutching pearls over side boob and tulle? Who made them the Ministry of Modesty? Please.
But hey, when Cannes isn’t acting like the Red Carpet Police, it’s technically a film festival. You know, that annual thing where a panel of very serious people with very French glasses sift through a sea of global submissions to crown the crème de la crème of cinema, or, more accurately, to hand shiny trophies to the usual suspects: the Americans, the Brits, the French, the Japanese and occasionally, Africans.
For Africans and more specifically, Nigerians, the silver lining came through Brothers Akinola Jr and Muyiwa Davies semi-autobiographical movie titled ‘My Father’s Shadow’.
The Sope Dirisu led film made historical mark on the cannes stage by being the first Nigerian movie to be awarded the coveted Camera D’ Or . That’s something to celebrate, right? Apparently, not only toxic lovers know how to breadcrumb. Cannes does too, just enough representation to keep you watching.
Is that a naked dress I see? Oh honey! There is a Cinderella sashaying down the red carpet too?
Notable rebels like Leomie Anderson and Evelyn Ellis clearly decided Cannes’ “no naked dresses” rule was more of a polite suggestion because nothing screams rebellion like showing up draped in nothing but shimmery stones and audacity.
On the other side of chaos, Heidi Klum showed up like a walking, talking cotton candy explosion, while Wan Qianhui floated in wearing a butter-yellow gown so aggressively layered in tulle it looked like she was either getting married on a cloud or ascending straight to fashion heaven.
Elle Fanning pulled up in a t-shirt and denim, giving “I woke up like this… not flawless.”
On a happy note, Congratulations to directors Akinola Davies Jr. and Wale Davies, and producers Rachel Dargavel and Funmbi Ogunbanwo on their movie, My Father’s Shadow. It made history as the first Nigerian film ever selected for the Cannes Film Festival’s Official Selection in the Un Certain Regard section, shining a global spotlight on Nigerian cinema and its incredible talent.
