It was a milestone event, even for Cannes, which has seen its fair share of celebrities during its 76 years of existence. Martin Scorsese’s press conference for his remarkable Killers of the Flower Moon, alongside Robert de Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio, had attracted hordes of journalists. True living legends, as the Japanese say. At their side: Lily Gladstone, an actress with Aboriginal roots and Geoffrey Standing Bear, the chief of the Osage nation, who came to testify about the film (adapted from the book by David Grann) which tackles a dark chapter of this Oklahoma community.
Leonardo DiCaprio admitted to having grown and evolved as an actor with the films of Scorsese which gave the star to De Niro. “They influenced my playing with their high levels, like that of a whole generation of performers. »
The day before, hysteria was at its height at the Palais and the team said they felt in the ovation following the screening the result of three years of intense work as well as a tremendous current of love. On Sunday, in front of the media, rather than behaving like stars, the trio of aces greatly emphasized the honor of having received the confidence of the Osages throughout the process.
Let us recall the subject of Killers of the Flower Moon. A century ago, several Osage wealthy with oil money found on their lands had been murdered by supposed white benefactors who cheated them, especially the characters played by De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio. Scorsese, following the advice of the latter, revealed to have moved away from the original novel based on the investigation of the FBI to explore the psychology of the characters, after having learned more about the events of the past.
“Scorsese and his team have restored the lost trust of our people,” said Chief Standing Bear. We didn’t want our name to be lost in history. Lily Gladstone’s Aboriginal grandparents were very traditional people. “I found myself in this film,” confided the latter.
Scorsese will have consulted extensively with the Chief of the Osage Nation, in addition to participating in traditional ceremonies and prayers. “I discovered there a system of harmonious values on this planet. It helped me not only as a filmmaker, but as a human being. »
DiCaprio found in this terrible story the opportunity to connect with the past of the American people, with their history, with their culture, as bloody as they are.
Robert de Niro had felt no sympathy for his character who defines himself as a father and a patron of the community, speaks the Osage language and seduces everyone before betraying them. “I don’t understand its workings,” he said. This man must have been charming. He thought he was smart, but his stupidity was reflected in his sense of superiority. Look what Trump is doing…I’m reading a book about the Nazis. After the death of Georg Floyd, we at least better understood the banality of evil. »
Odile Tremblay is the guest of the Cannes Film Festival.