She glittered on the red carpet and kept a smile instead of a stiff uper lip in the face of her badly received film. Nicole Kidman is a pro when it comes to promoting one of her movies, even when it doesn’t work. To say that Olivier Dahan’s “Grace of Monaco“ was met with mixed reaction is the understatement of the year. The film was politely applauded at the premiere but there was none of the overwhelming standing ovations and endless clapping even mediocre festival films receive when they have the opening night slot. The morning’s first press screening painted a clearer picture. Some left, some booed at the end, most moaned through it. The official press conference that followed took a little of the sting out due to its star. Nicole Kidman charmed the room full of journalists with her well known grace – no pun intended. Her performance was the only aspect of the film that got unanimous praise. Unfortunately it is lost on a discombobulated story and bad directing. During the pc she announced that “Grace“ will get a release in the US, a slightly different version. The actress was joking while being asked the usual dumb questions, i.e. if she had found her prince in real life : “I have, he’s more like a country-prince“ while referring to husband Keith Urban who couldn’t be here because of the ‘American Idol’ finale in Los Angeles. Kidman wore a white Altuzarra dress to the conference and changed into Armani Prive for the red carpet. Also on hand: Tim Roth who plays Prince Rainier in the film. The after-party at Studio 5, La Croisette, was a subdued affair with director and producers huddling in a closed off corner. The film makers and actors have to do interviews in the morning. Yes, it’s hard to promote a bad movie.

Elisabeth Sereda