Chapter 262: Chapter 262: Only One Outcome
"I'm trying to buy a movie by a New Zealand director named Jane Campion, titled 'Sweet Sister'. It's a dark comedy with a small scale, primarily exploring themes of family dysfunction and female psychosexuality. The director has some interesting ideas about the film's music and composition. Most importantly, the film is highly polished and the story flows smoothly, making it engaging for even those who aren't typically interested in art films."
At the hilltop villa in Le Cannet.
Ella Doitchman and Robert Rem arrive and everyone heads to the dining room for lunch, discussing recent events.
Simon had already obtained the list of films in the main competition at the Cannes Film Festival. Besides 'My Left Foot' and 'Sex, Lies, and Videotape', he was particularly interested in two other films: Giuseppe Tornatore's 'Cinema Paradiso' and Jane Campion's 'Sweet Sister'.
'Cinema Paradiso', needless to say, was the Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars in 1990 in the original timeline.
As for 'Sweet Sister', Simon hadn't seen it yet, but he was interested in its director, Jane Campion. Another film directed by Campion, 'The Piano', was one of Simon's favorites, although that film, which was released in 1993 in the original timeline, had not yet appeared.
For this film festival, Simon planned to let Ella Doitchman operate freely and decide whether to intervene based on the results.
Hearing that Doitchman was also interested in Jane Campion's film, Simon was very satisfied, especially with Doitchman's consideration of the film's commercial potential. Treating art films as commercial productions was a business philosophy Simon had always been instilling in Doitchman.
In the restaurant.
After hearing Doitchman out, Simon asked, "Can we get a copy? I'd like to watch it myself in the next few days."
Ella Doitchman thought for a moment and nodded, "I'll try. It shouldn't be a problem."
At that moment, the servant brought another dish to the table.
Everyone paused for a moment, and Simon, after tasting the beef braised in red wine in front of him, asked, "Aside from 'Sweet Sister', are there other noteworthy films?"
"Bertrand Blier's 'Too Beautiful for You', Giuseppe Tornatore's 'Cinema Paradiso', and Denis Arcand's 'Jesus of Montreal' are all hot contenders for awards, along with our 'My Left Foot' and Colombia's 'Sex, Lies, and Videotape'. However, many North American distributors are eyeing Cannes this year, especially the films we're interested in. So, I'm not too sure if we can get these movies."
Simon's 'Run Lola Run' in 1987 won the Sundance Film Festival Jury Prize and became the box office champion of the year. His 'Pulp Fiction' in 1988 won the Palme d'Or at Cannes and nearly became last year's annual champion. Although the box office success of these two films was not directly related to their respective film festivals, they did pique the interest of distributors worldwide in festival-winning films.
Daenerys Entertainment's series of blockbuster films last year also made Hollywood constantly monitor every move of this movie company. This scrutiny had already caused Daenerys Entertainment to miss many projects, including 'Sex, Lies, and Videotape', but it was evidently not over yet.
After thinking for a moment, Simon said to Doitchman, "If you can't get the films, try signing some directors' next film contracts in advance. That should be easier."
Ella Doitchman agreed, adding, "I've always been using that 'final ultimatum' strategy. Highgate Films won't easily engage in a price war with other distributors."
Simon nodded, then turned to Robert Rem and asked, "What about you, Bob?"
"I've established contacts with some distributors in Eastern Europe these days. The situation there has been somewhat turbulent in the last two years, but they've also loosened control over the film market," Robert Rem said, then seemed to complain unintentionally, "Simon, I've been on more international business trips in these few months than in the past decade. Next week, after leaving Cannes, I have to fly straight to Brazil. Probably no executive in the distribution department of any Hollywood studio is busier than me."
Simon looked at Rem and smiled, "The company is in a phase of rapid expansion. Everyone's in the same boat. Things will ease up after these couple of years. However, if you're not satisfied with the company's jet, I can approve the lease of a better one."
Robert Rem laughed along, feeling somewhat disappointed, not knowing if Simon really understood his insinuation, but wisely changed the topic.
Lunch ended at one o'clock.
Ella Doitchman and Robert Rem bid farewell and returned to their hotel. Sofia left to make final preparations for Gucci Night.
Everyone busied themselves with their affairs, and the servants were dismissed, quieting the villa.
Simon had no work scheduled for the afternoon. With rare leisure time, he stayed upstairs in the living room under the eaves, browsing through various technical materials about computer networks recently collected by Jennifer. His female assistant was downstairs, reconfirming his schedule for the next few days.
At around two o'clock.
The Mediterranean afternoon sun poured in from the open eaves, and Simon, lounging on a sunbathing chair with most of his body bathed in sunlight, was reading a paper on the HTTP protocol. Natasha Kinsky silently approached him from behind.
Seeing the woman squatting next to his chair, now in a red spaghetti strap dress, staring at him cat-like, Simon asked, "Going out?"
"I'm in a movie, 'The Spring of the Rapids', screening at three o'clock."
Simon nodded, "Oh."
He was aware of the film.
Originally, Valeri Golino was almost cast as the female lead in this new film by the renowned Polish director Jerzy Skolimowski, which he had been preparing for years. However, she opted out because of the Catwoman role invitation. The film had its premiere on the 15th. Although it was Skolimowski's meticulously prepared film, compared to his other works, 'The Spring of the Rapids' received low media ratings.
Seeing Simon's lukewarm response, Natasha Kinsky said directly, "Come with me."
Simon had already reviewed the films scheduled for screening that afternoon, including 'The Spring of the Rapids', and found none of interest, preferring to stay home. When Natasha Kinsky said this, he shook his head, "No."
Natasha Kinsky thought for a moment, then leaned closer, "I'll tell Jennifer you slept with me."
Simon flipped a page of his paper and said casually, "There's only one outcome if you do that. Either I'll kick you out of here, or Jennifer will."
Seemingly frustrated, Natasha Kinsky frowned slightly, then leaned closer to Simon and said, "Okay, I won't tell her."
Feeling a pair of lips nearly touching his ear, Simon pinched the woman's chin and said, "Your favor for someone else is done. Stay and sunbathe with me for a while."
Given her solitary and cold nature, she wouldn't have invited Simon to watch a film, even one she starred in, if it weren't for someone else's request. Like last year's voting in the main competition at Cannes, Simon thought she would vote for 'Pulp Fiction', but she followed her own preferences.
Natasha Kinsky hummed, shook her head to rid Simon's hand, but instead of moving to another lounge chair, she straddled him, leaning down to rest her head on his chest, finding a comfortable position and closing her eyes.
The light, cool woman's body blocking the warm sunlight, Simon just smiled and said, "Sleep. I'll take you to the party tonight."
After saying this, he continued reading his paper.
The woman on him remained quiet only for a moment before lifting her head again, pulling at a button on Simon's shirt, "Uncomfortable."
Simon reached over, flicked the button lightly with two fingers, and the white button flew off.
Natasha Kinsky followed the button with her gaze, landing nearby. She looked at Simon, then contentedly nestled back against him.
When she awoke, Simon's figure was no longer beside her.
The sun was setting.
Still in the same position as when she slept, she lay on the lounge chair, breathing in a familiar yet unfamiliar scent, scanning her surroundings. The button still lay on the ground nearby.
A slight smile curled at the corners of her mouth.
Having lived here for a year, she experienced an unprecedented ease.
Living the most comfortable life without any effort.
This was probably what she had always subconsciously longed for since she was young.
However, realizing he was about to reappear, she understood that she couldn't live without giving anything in return.
Sofia Fessy, who managed the property for him, had warned her that if she found a new boyfriend, she would need to move out and couldn't bring other men here.
She had no such thoughts just after her divorce.
Later, accustomed to this life, the housekeeper's admonition gradually became her constraint.
She always liked to do as she pleased, but this time she knew violating it meant leaving.
She didn't want to leave.
He had re-entered her life again.
Many men coveted her body, and she thought he was no different.
After initial discomfort, she couldn't help but test him.
Now she understood, he was indeed no different.
But more excessive.
Lovers often possess jealousy, but he didn't, yet owned her so naturally. Even if she suddenly disappeared from his life one day, he would probably just nonchalantly smile.
Like.
A missing house cat.
Cats, after all, are prone to getting lost.
As the sunset dipped below the horizon and the evening air cooled, she remained unwilling to get up.
Footsteps approached.
Jennifer walked in, seeing Natasha Kinsky lying languidly on the sun lounger, her eyes hazy, her flaxen hair spread out, the dress strap slipping from her shoulder, looking like she had just experienced something. Frowning slightly, Jennifer coldly said, "Miss Kinsky, we're leaving for Gucci's party soon. You should change."
So she stood up, following his assistant downstairs. Gucci had sent a dress over, along with a stylist.
She had thought she'd accompany him tonight.
But he had already left early.
Feeling somewhat disappointed, even considering pettily not going, she eventually let the stylist help her get ready and rushed to the Carlton Intercontinental Hotel in Cannes.
Compared to the post-Oscars attempt, Cannes' 'Gucci Night' was more grandiose. Over two hundred European and North American celebrities in film and fashion attending made the Carlton Intercontinental Hotel's red carpet as dazzling as Cannes' opening ceremony, attracting media from around the world.
Although the upcoming news coverage would likely be dispersed due to different celebrities' arrangements, the words 'Gucci Night' would certainly appear in various reports, serving the party's fundamental purpose.
Until eight o'clock, when the party officially began, Sofia was still nervously overseeing every detail.
If everything went as planned, the party would be perfect. Any issues, though adding exposure, were not what Sofia wanted to see.
Simon was more like the party's mascot.
Angela Arentz had made it clear at lunch that many stars were attending tonight because of him, and Simon fulfilled his duties as a mascot diligently.
Jennifer stayed close to Simon. Sofia had sent a long guest list before she came to France, hoping her assistant would remind Simon to personally greet some of them at the party.
Initially annoyed with him after seeing Natasha Kinsky earlier, Jennifer was still astonished by Simon effortlessly switching languages and chatting with guests as they moved through the crowd, even though she had witnessed many miracles from him.
English was the basic.
French wasn't surprising.
Spanish was common.
Then German, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Hebrew...
Are you the one who escaped God's wrath at the Tower of Babel?
"I've looked into 'Cinema Paradiso', Tono. Daenerys Entertainment is very interested in this film. You should set up a time with Ella."
...
"That film's failure isn't your fault, Ms. Ajani... Of course, I look forward to the opportunity to work with you."
...
"No worries, Steve. You're just the director, not the financier."
...
"Cindy, Helena, what brings you to Cannes? A pleasant surprise."
...
"Yes, I know a bit of Russian. I look forward to visiting Moscow."
...
After mingling for over an hour and the party moving to the fashion show segment, Simon finally had a brief respite.
Instead of joining the crowd near the runway, Simon took Jennifer to a corner of the hall and instructed, "Remind Ella to meet with Giuseppe Tornatore tomorrow."
Jennifer nodded, jotting it down in her notebook, then looked up at Simon, "Should I also remind Doitchman to meet with Isabelle Adjani?"
Simon paused, then smiled, "I was just being polite."
Feeling embarrassed for her public jealousy, Jennifer looked down, pretending to write in her notebook, but couldn't resist teasing, "You didn't seem polite."
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