I think I've posted this before, but a quick search didn't turn it up. Anyway, this video, an ad for Epuron energy company created by the Nordpol+Hamburg agency, won the "Golden Lion" in Cannes. Check it out:
The power of wind
Wind energy ad wins Cannes award 9
David Roberts is staff writer for Grist. You can follow his Twitter feed at twitter.com/drgrist.
Related Stories
Add a Comment
You are not logged in. Thus, you cannot post a comment. If you have an account, log in. If you don't have an account, well, by all means go make one! Meet you back here in five.
Comments
View as Flat
Gar Lipow Posted 3:21 pm
24 May 2008
By me.
It is good that you posted it again. The link I gave expired.
Permalink
amazingdrx Posted 11:59 pm
24 May 2008
http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog
Permalink
caniscandida Posted 4:55 am
25 May 2008
The lion is the symbol of Venice's patron saint, Saint Mark, one of the four Evangelists. In artistic representations, the lion is usually depicted in gold (e.g. on the flag of the Republic of Venice he was done in gold on a red background), with a pair of large wings, and his right forepaw on an open book, on which are written the words, "Pax tibi, Marce, evangelista meus," "Peace unto thee, Mark, my evangelist."
But I have no idea if the Golden Lions awarded at the Biennale and the Venice Film Festival happen to look like the Lion of Saint Mark.
The big prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival, by contrast, is called the Palme d'Or (Golden Palm). I do not know what that looks like either.
Anyway, at that festival, they do not seem to have a category for judging works such as this Epuron ad.
However, there is indeed an international advertising convention, run by a British group, which meets annually in Cannes, has nothing to do with the film festival, and does indeed judge advertisements, awarding a Golden (or Gold) Lion. The name of the British sponsors is in fact "Lions," and that would seem to explain everything:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannes_Lions_International_A ....
There is also apparently a Golden Lion awarded in Germany for musicians -- ABBA seem to have won one back in the 1970s -- , but that is enough for now.
A puzzle of a different kind is why, in this German-made ad, the voice of the Wind is speaking English, with a French accent.
The Frankensteinoid appearance of the actor is unsettling. But the concept, having him do the kinds of things that bother people in cities regarding excessive wind, is terrific.
Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.
Permalink
Colin Wright Posted 3:37 am
26 May 2008
Good question. I hope it's not nationalistic antagonisms at work. Perhaps it's innocent -- the actor is Chaplinesque, and maybe the French touch was an "arts" thing?
The Frankensteinoid appearance of the actor is unsettling. But the concept, having him do the kinds of things that bother people in cities regarding excessive wind, is terrific.
Well put. Though I think the ad seems excessively "anti-nature". That is, it frames "the wind" as something that is usually a bother. But who doesn't love the breeze on a warm day? Or to feel the power of nature in wind storm?
In any case, the ad is yet another a marketing scheme that benefits from rational analysis...
Permalink
Tasermons Partner Posted 3:41 am
26 May 2008
Yeah, I think it's just a nod to Chap.
Who, incidentally, also had what was described here as a "Frankensteinoid" appearance (though I wouldn't personally put it that way).
Permalink
Jonas Posted 9:44 am
26 May 2008
Wind is probably not going to make up a significant part of our energy future. Which is sad because this movie looks really good!
Permalink
spaceshaper Posted 10:42 am
26 May 2008
I also find the ad not anti-nature in the least - it suggests how we can live with the capricious wind, to our great benefit. It is quite beautifully done.
The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.
Permalink
Tasermons Partner Posted 11:40 am
26 May 2008
Really? The Energy Department seems to think it could make up 20%...and that's without significant conservation efforts. If we conserve enough, that percentage grows quite well above 20%.
Permalink
hapa Posted 3:36 pm
26 May 2008
Permalink