28 May 2024

From Marseille, via Sanary-sur-Mer, to Cannes (3,290 km)

(2024-05-25/27) On June 17, 1944, Thomas Mann wrote in a letter to Lion Feuchtwanger: “I believe you were the first of the emigrants to find a beautiful home that was more than worthy of you, in Sanary-sur-Mer. It was there that we spent the first few months after our dismissal as German writers. I would have liked to have taken Goebbels on tour through the rooms and shown him the view. He would have choked on his own bile.“ The coastal town was discovered as a refuge by artists and intellectuals after the First World War. But it was the German and Austrian artists, who increasingly came to Sanary-sur-Mer after the Nazis seized power, who made the town the “Capital of Artistic and Literary exile”. This is evidenced by the commemorative plaque at the tourist office, which provides an extremely informative brochure for download.

From the “Capital of Artistic and Literary Exile” on to Cannes, which becomes the Capital of International Film for the evening of the Palme d'Or Awards ceremony at the Film Festival. I'm there on time in the afternoon, as are all the other stars, from Meryl Streep to George Lucas. You won't expect any glamor coverage from me. I'm limiting myself to B-Z celebrities with their human and/or animal entourage.

There are real celebrities on several fronts in Cannes, and the fact that Jaques Tati is there makes me, one of his very, very big fans, particularly happy.

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