If you follow cinema for long enough you will inevitably come to understand the importance of the Cannes film festival that takes place in France every year in May. Now, what gets most of the media attention are the big film screenings of new features from some of the world’s most respected directors, as well as the awards handed out at the end of the festival. All The Love You Cannes! deals with the other and equally important part of the Cannes film festival, which Troma has been attending for nearly 30 years. Every year independent directors, independent studios, and distributors converge in France to buy and sell the distribution rights to movies for international and domestic release. All The Loves You Cannes! documents the events of the Cannes Film Festival 2001 in a manner that anyone who has watched Farts In The Darkness or Apocalypse Soon will be quite accustom to. And while due to this film being set on a much larger scale it lacks some of their more intimate and thorough focus of those two documentaries, the Troma team more than make up for it by again giving us a very unbiased and candid look at the world of truly independent film. This documentary was created with the intention of being a simple guide of how to sell your movie at Cannes with no money, and while the film is still full of helpful hints from Lloyd, as the introduction to the film correctly states the movie became something else entirely.

Laugh at the site of a Troma parade complete with members like Sgt. Kabukiman NYPD, Mad Cowboy, Yaniv Sharon, Count Smokula, Dolphin Man, The Killer Condom, and of course the Toxic Avenger marching down the streets of France in front of a backdrop of beautiful picturesque beaches and posters for both internationally acclaimed films and big banal Hollywood films like Tomb Raider, Never Been Kissed, and Bedazzled, which of course illustrates subtly the contrast of those multimillion dollar advertising campaigns done by the larger companies with their posters and billboards lining every wall and the guerilla assault on the senses of the Cannes public that is Troma marketing, which is at the same time thuggish, sophomoric, distasteful, inspired, brilliant, and genuine.

Cringe at the site of the exuberant Troma volunteers, who represent the independent spirit of Troma, proving time and time again to be both Troma’s greatest asset and detriment.

Marvel at the site of how truly universal Troma is, with buyers from Germany, India, Malaysia, Sweden, Japan, and many more coming to Troma’s offices in Cannes to buy the distribution rights to Troma films. Not to mention the site of 20/20 reporter John Stossel powdering his nose in the Troma bathroom.

Vomit at the site of Yaniv streaking the streets of Cannes despite being hung like an acorn.

Soil your pants at the site of Troma crashing a drive by photo shoot by big name no talent Jean Claude Van Damme.

But quite possibly the most endearing and truly interesting part of this film is the relationship between Troma staffers Doug Sakmann and Scott McKinlay, which works as a tremendous allegory as the two in many ways represent the two halves of Troma. Doug from New York and Scott from LA, are used through some clever editing and honest storytelling as two extremes, the two extremes that make Troma the volatile but enduring independent studio but that also keep it outside of the mainstream consciousness and from getting the respect from critics that some independent masterminds of the past like Roger Corman got. Doug Sakmann representing the more lewd, crude, and obnoxious half of Troma that is both publicity hungry but also strangely publicity savvy by creating a scene wherever he goes. And while he attracts publicity and coverage of Troma, at what cost does he do it? And Scott McKinlay who is the more subtle, intellectual type, a presence that lurks just below the surface of Troma’s best work, but is also resented by most everyone associated with Troma. And to see these two forces collide in a documentary as they do so often in the history of Troma is a quite intriguing and thought provoking way of showing what it is that makes Troma what it is, and what also keeps it from being what it could be, both positively and negatively. Because while it may be possible that Troma could be more respected and artistically important without the presence of the half of Doug Sakmann, it is also very likely that Troma would not be here today without that half.

All The Love You Cannes! is yet another fine documentary from the Troma Team in a style that is proving to be one of Troma’s strongest points. This film should have something not only for the Troma fan but also for anyone who is interested in the underbelly of independent cinema. Not quite on the level of the two documentaries before it, but still an entertaining and truthful journey with the usual troop of misfits.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars