Thai filmmaker takes top Cannes prize

CANNES, France, May 23 (UPI) -- Thai filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul took the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival with "Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives."

As he accepted the Palme d'Or for his fanciful story about a man recalling his past lives, the filmmaker thanks "all the spirits of Thailand" for making it "possible for me to be her," The New York Times reported.

The Grand Prix was awarded to "Of Gods and Men," a French film by Xavier Beauvois about an order of Catholic monks in Algeria during a time of civil war in the 1990s.

French actor Mathieu Amalric won the prize for best director for "Tournée" ("On Tour"), the story of a modern day U.S. burlesque troupe touring France, the Times said.

Lee Chang-dong of South Korea took the screenplay prize for "Poetry."

Juliette Binoche won the prize for best actress for "Certified Copy" while Javier Bardem and Elio Germano shared the best actor award. Bardem was honored for "Biutiful" and Germano was recognized for the Italian film "Our Life."