Spike Lee’s ‘BlacKkKlansman’ narrowly loses out as ‘Shoplifters’ claims prestigious Palme d’Or prize

Hirokazu Kore-eda's movie came out on top following what head judge Cate Blanchett called a "painful" decision-making process

Hirozaku Kore-eda has picked up the prestigious Palme d’Or award for his indie film Shoplifters, with his latest work narrowly beating Spike Lee’s much-hyped movie BlacKkKlansman to the grand prize.

The award, which is given out at the culmination of the Cannes Film Festival, is seen as one of the biggest prize a movie can win in the film industry. Previous winners include 2016’s I, Daniel Blake and Michael Moore’s film Fahrenheit 9/11.

Cate Blanchett headed the jury at this year’s festival, with the actress admitting that it was a “painful” process having to choose the winner in light of the strong competition that was presented at the 2018 festival.

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Kore-eda picked up the Palme d’Or on Friday night (May 18) for his Japanese-language film, which focuses on a family who have to resort to shoplifting due to their poverty-stricken situation.

Shoplifters managed to see off the strong challenge of Lee’s BlacKkKlansman, which had been considered a strong favourite to pick up the Palme d’Or. Lee’s movie was awarded the runner’s-up prize, the Grand Prix.

Starring John David Washington and Adam Driver, the film – which is set for an August release – released its first trailer earlier this week, which you can check out here.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/?bctid=5775110247001

Other major headlines at this year’s Cannes Film Festival included the divisive response to Lars von Trier’s latest film The House That Jack Built.

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One screening of the controversial movie at the festival prompted a mass walk-out from attendees, with some later blasting the film as “vile”.

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