Rendering №11

The article published on the website of the newspaper “The Guardian” on March 12, 2013 is headlined “The Great Gatsby to open Cannes 2013’'. The article reports at length that director Baz Luhrmann hails 'great honour' for his 3D film adaptation starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan. Speaking of this situation it is necessary to mention that Baz Luhrmann's much-anticipated 3D take on The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald's romantic tale of the gilded jazz age, is to open the Cannes film festival.

Speaking of this new fourth adaptation of F Scott Fitzgerald's world famous novel it is necessary to mention its wonderful cast: Leonardo DiCaprio in the title role of Jay Gatsby, Spider-Man's Tobey Maguire as his wide-eyed confidant Nick Carraway and Britain's Carey Mulligan as manipulative socialite Daisy Buchanan. It is also an open secret that the drama will open the 66th Festival de Cannes out-of-competition on 15 May.

Speaking of the story itself, it is necessary to point out that “The Great Gatsby” chronicles the young, midwestern Carraway's entanglements with a wealthy circle of hedonistic east coast aristocrats, including the titular Jay Gatsby, the host of wild and lavish New York parties. While not popular upon its initial publication, the book went on to be recognised as one of the great American novels and a powerful celebration and indictment of the roaring twenties.

Analyzing the situation it is necessary to emphasize that prior to Luhrmann's film the most famous adaptation was Jack Clayton's Academy award-winning 1974 version, which was scripted by Francis Ford Coppola and starred Robert Redford, Mia Farrow and Sam Waterston. Besides, it is also a well-known fact that The Great Gatsby was previously filmed in the silent era in 1926 by Herbert Brenon, a version viewed as closest to the original text.

There is every likelihood that Luhrmann, DiCaprio, Maguire and Mulligan, along with Joel Edgerton (who plays Buchanan's husband Tom) will all be expected to appear on the red carpet. Moreover, there is much speculation that rapper Jay Z, who has scored the film, and Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan, who appears on camera, would also be in attendance.

What is more, it’s very likely that “The Great Gatsby” will open across France on the same day it screens at Cannes; in the US on 10 May and the UK a week later. In addition, it will be the second 3D film to open Cannes following the Pixar animation “Up” in 2009.

The article concludes by saying that Cannes veteran Steven Spielberg was revealed as the surprise president of the jury for this year's festival last month. In this connection it is worthwhile mentioning the fact that like the US film-maker, Luhrmann is a regular on the Croisette, having screened “Strictly Ballroom” in the Un Certain Regard section in 1992 and “Moulin Rouge” as the opening film of the 2001 edition.

As for me, I’m thrilled to see this adaptation which promises to be magnificent and worth watching. It would be very interesting to compare my impressions since I’ve already read the original book on which the film is based. I hope that the movie will be faithful to the plot of the book without cutting any indispensable moments.