Dueling Rabbis Film Gets Cannes Nod

By Nathan Burstein April 14, 2011

A movie about dueling rabbis has qualified for a chance at one of the film industry’s highest honors, the Palm d’Or.

“Footnote,” an upcoming film by Israeli director Joseph Cedar, has been selected as one of 19 movies to compete in the main competition at next month’s Cannes Film Festival. The drama tells the story of rival Talmud scholars, who also happen to be father and son.

The film’s selection marks another triumph for Cedar, who already boasts a series of international successes. Cedar’s most recent movie, “Beaufort,” claimed one of the top prizes at the Berlin Film Festival in 2007, then was nominated for a foreign-language Oscar the following year.

Regardless of how “Footnote” fares in France, Cedar will find himself in good company. The film will compete against submissions from star directors including Pedro Almodovar, Terence Malick and Lars von Trier.

Woody Allen’s latest, “Midnight in Paris,” will open the festival out of competition.

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