Storms, Tribute and X-Men

Day 1 - Wednesday, 2 August

Opening the 53rd Locarno Festival, The Marvel comic adaptation X-Men by Bryan Singer kicked off the screenings in the Piazza Grande, the site of the open-air nightly screenings with seating for 7,000. Adolpho, pictured right, summed it up, "It's a very unique experience here to watch a film under the stars." Singer took the stage to present his film, seeming very moved and pleased to have his international premiere presented to such a sea of people before him. "I feel like I should take a guitar and sing because there are so many people gathered here," Singer joked. As the screening got underway, a slight sound problem did not put a damper on the atmosphere and certain reported seeing Singer hurrying to the projection hut to lend a helping hand. Although well received at its US theatrical release, the audience - dominated by Swiss residents on vacation in Locarno - displayed no particular enthusiasm.

It was the Fox Annual Locarno Party that hosted the after-screening X-Men bash at the Lido nightclub, beachside on the Lake (Lago Maggiore), attended by Singer and his co-screenwriter Tom DeSanto along with the Swiss press and local guests. Although located in Switzerland sharing a border with Italy, Locarno certainly feels, looks and talks Italian. And the town folk don't take their festival lightly: Every shop window has its leopard (yellow with black spot) decorations, from the candy and the street signs to the umbrellas for sale and the place settings on the restaurant tables.

Earlier in the day, a storm blew through town making for a rainy opening cocktail held at the local castle and museum. The tone was solemn and each speaker paid homage to the missing Giuseppe Buffi, festival president, who died suddenly last week. The unshaven Marco Muller, festival director, was clearly in mourning and dedicated the 53rd edition to the late president. In time for the end of the speeches, the sun broke through and the heads of state, press and guests had a dry glass of champagne as the petit four trimmings were decidedly missing. Furthermore the closing dinner has been cancelled. The festival will go on, but the gaiety that goes with it will be markedly absent.

Afternoon screenings included the more than 5-hour La Commune by famed documentary filmmaker Peter Watkins, recently presented at the Marseille Documentary Festival. The first of the Video Competition screenings, La Commune describes the first revolutionary proletarian uprising in Paris in 1871 blending actors and non-actors to present personal and historical perspectives.

Following the X-Men opener, the festival travels the globe to China in presenting Fruit Chan's Xilu Xiang (Little Cheung) in the Piazza Grande tomorrow. The story of a nine-year old boy coming to terms with the complexities of life.