Cannes Classics: “Let’s Get Lost” by Bruce Weber

Today’s Cannes Classics offerings are screenings of restored copies of the 1964 Turkish film Susuz Yaz (at 3pm) and the 1972 Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds (5pm), directed by Paul Newman. At 7:45pm, festival-goers can rediscover Bruce Weber’s documentary Let’s Get Lost, about the famously talented and self-destructive jazz singer and trumpeter Chet Baker, who passed on at the age of 58 in 1988. Through interviews with friends and archival concert footage, the director has immortalized a musical genius, an inspired and innovative virtuoso. Thanks are due to Eva Lindemann of Little Bear Productions and Brigitte Dutray of Wild Side Films for the brand-new print made from the original negative.

For the showing of this brand new copy of Let’s Get Lost, Thierry Frémaux emphasized that it was like a premiere because "the film is technically thus physically new, but also because re-releasing the film will bring it to the attention of young moviegoers, allow it to go to other festivals, bring the viewing pleasure to a new generation.”

Among the viewers this evening were the fashion designer Agnès B and Wim Wenders. Receiving a big round of applause as they came up on stage were cinematographer Jeff Preiss, executive producer Nan Bush, and of course, American director Bruce Weber. A very emotional Weber took the microphone, at times holding back the tears: “First of all, I want to thank you, Thierry and Cannes Classics, for giving us a chance to show our films in Cannes. I want to thank my good pal Agnès B for being so helpful to us when we started making this film. I really love you a lot, Agnès. And I want to thank all the people at Wild Side for helping us with this film and just getting it out in the world.”

“This is a very emotional moment for us; I didn’t think it would be so much so. I wish that Chet was here right now to share this with us. He was somebody we loved. There’s a thin line between love and fascination. When we first showed this film in Los Angeles, it was at the Tony Bill screening room and it was the most magical screening, because people were laying down on the floor and necking, and making love…”
Thierry Frémaux addressing the audience: “Well, you know what’s next for you!”
“So I don’t want to get you kicked out of the Festival, but it’s your turn…”(laughs)