MAY 20 (Reuters) — A film that Canadian director Denis Villeneuve says is meant to break “a cover of silence” about the brutality of the Mexican drug trade and the complicity of users in the violence that feeds their habits blasted its way into Cannes on Tuesday (May 19).
The stars of “Sicario” joined director Villeneuve for the film’s premiere as part of the Cannes film festival; following a raft of positive reviews after the film was screened for critics.
The world-famous French red carpet was awash with stars including Cate Blanchett, Natalie Portman, Antonio Banderas, Victoria’s Secret model Doutzen Kroes and Michael Jackson’s father, Joe.
“Sicario”, which means hitman in Latin America, is an action-packed thriller in which law agents cross territorial and legal boundaries.
Emily Blunt of “The Devil Wears Prada” fame plays FBI agent Kate who gets recruited into a high-risk CIA-led drug operation across the border.
Josh Brolin is Matt, the CIA team leader, while Benicio Del Toro, who played a conflicted cop in the 2000 narcotics-trade hit “Traffic”, co-stars as a Colombian who has a role with the CIA team that does not become clear until the end.
“Sicario” is among the 19 films competing for the Cannes Film Festival top prize, the Palme d’Or that will be awarded on May 24.
