(Almost) empty-handed at the end of the festival? Whoa! - Surprise?

I think people tend to put too much stock in critical reactions. I don't know if this was the case for Miller's jury, but I remember some past presidents like Campion stating that they wouldn't even read reviews to avoid any risk of being influenced by them. And it's not like they owe critics anything, btw. People should have kept last year in mind: most weren't even predicting "Dheepan" for a single award and it ended up winning the top one. I was sure that, in such an unpredictable year as this one, the jury awards wouldn't have necessarily mirrored the critical reactions, and I also knew it was unwise to underestimate the French/Francophone block, since it always wins something regardless of its reception. I think it was already a great achievement for Germany to have a film in the main competition: I don't remember last time it happened if you exclude any co-production involving Haneke. PR is an important part of everything, and Germany's poor track at the festival suggest that they may not be too good in this department.

But, more concretely, it looks like Miller didn't like the film. I'd say it's likely that other jurors didn't, since it won nothing. I'd say that the raptorous critical reception that led many to think it was going to be awarded the Palme d'or was largely constitued by the reviews and reactions that came from the English-speaking world. I know for sure that, in Italy, some of the big critics actually knocked it. There were only three anglophone members in the jury (and, supposedly, one of them wasn't a fan); taste can vary a lot in a multi-ethnic group such as your typical festival jury. I'd say a German juror may have helped the film's cause. Think about this: there was a Canadian juror and Canada was among the winners. An Iranian juror and Iran was among the winners. 2 French jurors and France was among the winners. Nothing so surprising, if you ask me.

Anyway, I was never too sold on Ade winning the Palm and I had even thought it would've been a funny outcome had she gone home empty-handed (I wasn't convinced it would happen, though). I should also add that the film gave me a negative vibe from the start and, while I will give it the benefit of the doubt, I'm still sceptical to believe it's such a masterpiece.

Ultimately juries are not critics and it's 9 people trying to negotiate what to award and where. Looking back over what won vs which films are remembered now doesn't always line up.

It sucks that such a critically acclaimed film couldn't take the Palme especially since it's been so long since a woman won, but Ade walked away the talk of the festival.

As someone who has seen this film it's even more disappointing that it didn't win an award. The two scenes that apparently received a standing ovation deserved it, especially the second one as I have never laughed harder watching a movie.

However each jury is different and next year will be different.

As for last year I think The Assassin should've won but I agree with the 2011 and 2012 choices.

This is an interesting movie for sure. But absolutely no festival winner.

I'm stompin' on these chat room fakes
Whose hip-hop birth coincides with them cheesy remakes
You little kids playin' the critics hard
Go back to your other hobby, Pokémon cards

Coming back to this thread the day the film earned a Golden Globe nom for Best Foreign Film and slayed at the European Film Awards.

It's nice to see that it's getting awards attention after being snubbed at Cannes.