Chivalry in Cannes is a live Twitter-based and blog-based report from Cannes with Chivas, Official Partner of the Cannes Film Festival. Each episode gives you an exclusive, insider’s view of Chivalry in Cannes and the world of film.

Olivier Pillon, Head Bartender at the bar in the Martinez, has been lucky enough to come face to face with a lion's share of international cinema stars over the course of the 25 Cannes Film Festivals he has experienced. This glamorous quarter of a century has made him a star in his own right, earning himself a reputation for top-notch service and the best cocktails on the Croisette. Whether toasting a successful screening or negotiating an upcoming role with a film director, celebrities frequently visit Olivier’s bar throughout the Festival. Here are his insights on the Festival: a perfect mix of chivalry, Cannes, and celebration...shaken, not stirred.

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Brotherhood, a Core Value in Cannes

"We live in the Age where personal gain is worshipped above all else.

Let's raise a glass to the almost-forgotten fine art of Chivalry."

The Chivalry Manifesto - Chivas.com

If there is one value that comes first in the attitude of actors and directors in Cannes, it is their brotherhood. Year after year, Olivier has seen film stars coming to his hotel to show their support for a film presentation or to ensure their cast has a good time at the bar.

Spider-Man and Antichrist actor Willem Dafoe, for example, was seen coming to Olivier's bar for a film that he was not directly involved in, but rather that his friend had directed – he was attending as an act of support. This kind of gesture is common among the stars: often, actors will even invest in films for this same reason. After a few drinks, the bartender offered to walk Dafoe to the hall for the film presentation. Dafoe's presence at the presentation was a particular act of Chivalry, showing that even with a busy schedule, there should always be time to give a friend a helping hand.

Acclaimed director Woody Allen also came to the bar with his entourage (as most film stars do) simply to ensure that his guests were having a good time in the midst of one of Cannes' busy days. Amidst the hectic environment, Allen asked Olivier if he could show him the way to somewhere quiet on the hotel's pier, which Olivier gladly accepted. The director proved that even in stressful times, there is a time to take care of the people around you.

Olivier remembers the official dinner of Clint Eastwood's film Bird at the Palme D'Or restaurant in the Martinez. The director was a true leading man for the evening, taking care of every member of his crew as his own guests and treating everyone with the same respect.

Other notable acts of Chivalry that have caught Olivier's eye over the years include memories of French directors and actors helping their international counterparts with translations during meetings held in the bar. Surely the fact that everybody knows each other in the small world of film encourages this, but friendship is not the only motivation –this willingness to help is also an example of a chivalrous spirit. These artists lead busy lives, but they make brotherhood a priority within their film crews. This is part of what makes the cinema industry such an inspiring world.

 

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