Dark films lauded as Cannes hits halfway

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Film goers are generally impressed with the quality of 11 competition movies screened so far and critics have also highlighted several discoveries outside the main lineup.

"Usually at this stage we would have seen more absolute stinkers," said film critic and author Mark Cousins, who is covering his 18th Cannes festival. "For me it's a rather high standard, though we don't know what's coming, obviously."

Among his favourites for the Palme d'Or, which goes to the jury's choice of best film, is "Waltz With Bashir", director Ari Folman's attempt to piece together buried memories of the 1982 massacre of Palestinians in Beirut's Sabra and Shatila camps.

Folman uses animation to recreate interviews with fellow Israeli soldiers serving with him at the time.

"Folman's nearly monochromatic palette allows you to absorb the horror of atrocities without any pornographic fixation on gore," wrote Kirk Honeycutt of the Hollywood Reporter.

Italy's "Gomorra" was hailed for its bravery in depicting the brutal world of the Camorra crime network in Naples.

It is based on the best-selling account of the group by journalist Roberto Saviano, who has been living under police protection for the past two years.

Both entries are regarded as political which may give them a edge if jury president Sean Penn wishes to highlights topicality alongside cinematic craft at the prize ceremony on Sunday.

TURKEY, FRANCE, BELGIUM IMPRESS

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