More than a critics darling, British filmmaker Andrea Arnold has been a festival favorite. Over the past two decades, she has been a regular presence at the Cannes Film Fest.
It’s hard to think of another director, male or female, who has received such a quick and remarkable recognition from major festivals (Cannes, Venice, Toronto) as Arnold, not even Jane Campion or Gillian Armstrong, her Australian counterparts (both older).
Arnold’s first two short films, “Milk” (1998) and “Dog” (2001) screened in the Cannes Film Fest in the prestigious series Semaine de la Critique (Critics Week).
In 2005, her third short, “Wasp,” received the Oscar Award for Best Live Action Short.
Arnold went on to write and direct two riginal features, Red Road (2006) and Fish Tank (2009) both of which world premiered at Cannes, where they earned the Jury Prize and the BAFTA award.
Her recent feature was an audacious but disappointing adaptation of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights which had its premiere at the 2011 Venice Film Fest. She herself has expressed dissatisfaction with her work on that picture.
Shia LaBeouf–Lead or Supporting
Strangely, however, though Shia LaBeouf carries most of American Honey with Lane, he got recognized in the best supporting actor category. This category is less competitive, and the Spirit Award could actually give him the prize for excelling in playing a gritty part.
American Honey, which is available on DVD and streaming, is worth watching.
