Surprise apology to Mariane Pearl

While it’s hard not to be disturbed by the subject matter of the film “A Mighty Heart,” the incredibly tense moment during its news conference here was unexpected.

On Monday, star Angelina Jolie, producer Brad Pitt, director Michael Winterbottom and cast members along with Mariane Pearl, the widow of decapitated journalist Daniel Pearl and author of the book from which the film is adapted, appeared before the frenzied international media for a Q&A.;

There were the usual questions for Pitt and Jolie: some to do with acting or their feelings about the film and, of course, the inevitable “What do you think of Cannes?” (Pitt said, “It doesn’t feel much different because we usually have a camera following us every day”), but no one was prepared when a Bloomberg TV journalist took the microphone.

“Hi, Mariane,” he said. “We meet again.” Then he went on to explain that he was the reporter represented in the film who asks a controversial question.

“What is in the film isn’t exactly what I said, and I wish someone more handsome could have played me, like Brad. But, I wanted to ask you, Mariane, ‘Would you forgive me?’ ”

A hush fell over the room before Pearl said, “I accept your apology.” The question: “Did you watch the tape?”

-- Nancy Tartaglione-Vialatte