Musical Tragedy Takes Cannes

Dancer in the Dark, a musical tragedy about a Czech immigrant by Danish director Lars von Trier, won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival on Sunday, and also the best actress award for Icelandic singer Bjork.

The grand jury prize went to Devils on the Doorstep, the story of a Chinese villager facing his fears of death during the Japanese occupation in World War II, by Chinese director Jiang Wen.

Best actor went to Tony Leung for the Hong Kong film In the Mood for Love.

A special acting award was given to the entire cast of The Wedding, a joyous Russian film directed by Pavel Lounguine.

Edward Yang won the best director award for Yi Yi, a Taiwanese film about a businessman's midlife malaise and the lives of his family members.

And in the only American award, best screenplay went to Nurse Betty, a dark and funny film directed by Neil LaBute and written by John C. Richards and James Flamberg.

By Jocelyn Noveck
©2000 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed