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This year, coronavirus has forced the
indefinite postponement of the film festival and left Morpelli -
leading member of the so-called 'stepladder gang' of ardent
autograph-hunters and amateur paparazzi - to ruminate over what
he's missing.
"It breaks my heart," he said as he stood across the street from
the venue on Monday, usually a hive of activity with 24 hours to
go until the opening, but now deserted.
"It’s hard to imagine that this year, there’s nothing, that
we’ll need to wait one more year."
The Cannes Festival is the moment in the annual calendar when
Hollywood glamour rubs shoulders on the French Riviera with
Europe's show-business glitterati. Attendees last year included
Antonio Banderas and Julianne Moore.
This year's edition, which had been due to take place from May
12-23, was called off after the French government, in an effort
to curb the spread of the virus, banned public gatherings.
It was only the third time in its history that the festival has
failed to take place. The two previous occasions were the
outbreak of World War Two and 1968, when France was roiled by
violent protests.
Morpelli and his fellow gang members usually line up on a verge
across the road from the red carpet. The stepladders give the
fans a better vantage point, and allow them to be seen.
When limousines pull up at the kerb, the fans shout to entice
the celebrities to come over. Many have photographs that they
ask the stars to sign.
On Monday, as he looked at the empty spot where the red carpet
should be, Morpelli said he was still processing the absence of
the festival: "I think we'll understand it later, but now it's
hard to swallow."
(Reporting by Michel Bermouin, Writing by Ardee Napolitano and
Christian Lowe; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
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