Cannes ends in a shocker: 'Dheepan' wins Palme d'Or

Cannes, France (AP) — Jacques Audiard's immigrant drama "Dheepan" has won the Palme d'Or, the top honor of the Cannes Film Festival.

The choice, as selected by a jury led by Joel and Ethan Coen, was a shocker. "Dheepan" is about a trio of Sri Lankans who pretend to be a family in order to flee their war-torn country for a housing project in France.

The runner-up prize, the Grand Prix, went to "Son of Saul," a grim Hungarian Holocaust drama by first-time director László Nemes.

Hou Hsiao-Hsien, the Taiwanese filmmaker, won best director for "The Assassin," his lushly painterly martial arts drama.

The best actress prize was split between Rooney Mara of Todd Haynes' '50s lesbian drama "Carol," and Emmanuelle Bercot, the French star of the roller coaster marriage drama "My King."

By Jake Coyle, AP Film Writer. Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Gayly – May 24, 2015 @ 1:45pm.