Not in official competition, ‘Welcome to New York’, the film said to be inspired by the downfall of former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn, was the buzz of Cannes on Saturday.
Propelled by a celebrity cast including Gerard Depardieu and Mickey Rourke and a 1 million euro marketing campaign, the film premiered at the Star Cinema, previously known for its pornographic offerings, making it an apt venue for the racy movie.
The film has attracted a lot of attention in France for its similarities with the legal and sexual scandals surrounding Dominique Strauss-Kahn, once a presidential hopeful.
It may be both the first and last time to see the film on the big screen in France as the producers opted to offer the film as a video on demand release.
