1946: Michèle Morgan, first ever Award for Best Actress in the Festival’s history

In 1946, the first Competition of the Festival de Cannes welcomed forty-four films which included La Symphonie pastorale (Pastoral Symphony), adapted from André Gide’s novel. Its director, Jean Delannoy, rose to the challenge of interpreting the book’s full complexity on screen in 103 minutes.

Michèle Morgan excelled in the role of Gertrude, a blind orphan taken in by a pastor who raises her alongside his son, Jacques. As an adult, when she regains her sight after an operation, Gertrude is torn between her love for Jacques, who is promised to the daughter of a wealthy industrialist, and her sense of gratitude to the pastor, who appears to be enamored with the young woman.

This role won Michèle Morgan what was then called the “International Grand Prix for Best Actress”. The press hailed the powerful simplicity and conviction of her performance. In the words of Henry Magnan in Le Monde: “We won’t soon forget her willowy figure, nor her almond eyes like flowing water mirroring reflections, images, and then death.” A performance to rediscover on the big screen, newly restored.