17 May 2009

Campion film shown at Cannes

6:57 am on 17 May 2009

A new film by New Zealand director Jane Campion has drawn a mixed response from critics at the Cannes film festival.

Bright Star is about a love affair between 19th century poet John Keats and his neighbour Fanny Brawne in the last two years before his death from tuberculosis at 25.

The movie covers the years in which he had a burst of productivity and produced some of his best works, such as Ode On A Grecian Urn.

Campion previously won the Palme d'Or at Cannes 16 years ago with The Piano, which later received three Oscars, including best writer for her.

Campion also wrote the screenplay for Bright Star. The story is built on love letters that Keats wrote to his muse. He later dedicated a poem to her, Bright Star.

Twenty movies are vying for the Palme d'Or, which will be awarded at the close of the festival on 24 May.