CANNES — The Cannes Film Festival is missing one of its biggest stars of this year's festival: Ryan Gosling. The 32-year-old Canadian actor was unable to attend the premiere Wednesday of director Nicolas Winding Refn's film “Only God Forgives.” Gosling stars in the Bangkok noir about a boxing club owner pressured by his mother to his avenge his brother's murder. At a press conference Wednesday, Cannes director Thierry Fremaux read, in French, a letter from Gosling apologizing for his absence. The actor is currently in Detroit shooting his directorial debut, “How to Catch a Monster.” “I can't believe that I'm not in Cannes with you,” Gosling wrote. “I was hoping to be coming but I am in the third week of shooting my movie. I miss you all. His absence is a blow to the festival, which depends on top stars like Gosling to walk its red carpet and draw the world's media attention to the annual French Riviera extravaganza. — AP
