Dazzling jewels, red carpets, and the spirit of Cleopatra, daughter of Isis, incarnated by another icon, Elizabeth Taylor were celebrated in Cannes Tuesday night with a star-studded affair hosted by Bulgari.
Part of the 66th Film Festival’s program highlights include the Cannes Classics—restored films that have marked the history of the Festival. After walking the red carpet and climbing the famous Grand Palais steps, the film’s Hostess, Academy-Award nominee actress, Jessica Chastain, introduced the film at the black-tie screening. She explained that the stunning necklace and ring she was wearing, re-purchased by Bulgari at a Christies sale last year, were actually being worn for the first time since Taylor’s passing. Voice trembling, it was evident that she was understandably emotional to be honored by Bulgari and her film festival peers in such a way.
Among the guests were actors Adrien Brody, accompanied by partner Lara Lieto and Rush Hour actor Chris Tucker, as well as Thierry Frémaux, the Cannes Film Festival Director. The UAE’s own Diala Makki was also in attendance, draped in an aubergine Rami Al Ali fishtail gown and dripping in Bulgari Serpenti diamonds.
After the introductory talks, guests were then immersed in Egypt’s golden era with the remarkably restored film, Cleopatra, a four-hour epic that took two and a half years to make and, with inflation, cost some USD$300 million. Though at the time, Cleopatra was considered a box-office flop, it did serve as the beginning of one of Hollywood’s greatest love affairs: the Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton romance and today, the film has reached iconic status.
After the screening, guests headed over to the J.W. Marriott on the Croisette for a black-tie affair and were joined by actor, Clive Owen, who was followed around by a bevy of models. On display, at the roof-top terrace, guests were diamond-struck by an exhibition of select pieces gifted to Taylor by Richard Burton including a diamond and emerald necklace wedding present. Also on display were Cleopatra’s costumes—stunning kaftans decorated with gold embroidered snakes or wheat—which, along with gold, were also part of Egypt’s treasures. Surprisingly, fifty years later, the costumes did not look dated, perhaps a quiet reminder that the beauty of Egypt and the memory of Elizabeth Taylor and Cleopatra are ever-lasting. One thing is for certain: those Bulgari diamonds will certainly last forever.
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