Opinion Lesson from Cannes: Roll up the red carpet

And so another edition of the Cannes International Film Festival draws to an end: Worthy films have received minutes-long standing ovations, the odds have been shortened for the Palme d’Or favourites, and the usually reticent Robert De Niro has delivered what can only be described as a denunciation of Donald Trump (“philistine president”). While the festival radiated both prestige and glamour, the buzz on the Riviera was muted compared to years past — and it had everything to do with what may have been one of the dullest red carpets in recent years.

Immortal cinema may be the heart and soul of the festival but what has long made Cannes, and other red-carpet events, a cynosure of global attention are the celebrities in fabulous frocks and outrageous outfits. This year, a new dress code banning “nudity” and voluminous gowns at the festival may have somewhat dampened the mood and kept out the more exuberant expressions of fashion. The other complicating factor is an overcrowded red carpet, thanks to the ubiquity of the influencer who scores a ticket to the festival, along with the backing of a brand to sponsor their appearances. Bringing almost as much attention to an event as a B-list actor or pop star, influencers have, indeed, transformed the very idea of celebrity, with once-wary fashion labels proudly announcing their “collabs”.

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But the real problem is the red carpet itself. The exclusivity it once guaranteed has vanished in the age of social media. Now any occasion, from a gym session to a mata ki chowki to an airport appearance, becomes a photo-op. And when celeb-spotting is as easy as scrolling through one’s Instagram feed, what is lost is mystique, the very essence of glamour.