Why did this win the Palme d'Or?

I watched THE KNACK last night, and...it was a disappointment. Very few laughs, a messy and disjointed screenplay, muddled editing...it left me feeling pretty underwhelmed.

I'll give the film its due, though. The performances aren't too bad; Rita Tushingham is charming, Donal Donnelly is likable, and Roy Brooks is a pretty believable ladykiller (Michael Crawford is fairly grating, though, especially in the first half of the film). And Lester pulls off some great visuals tricks (David Watkin's cinematography is quite nice), and there were some moments where I was amused.

But, oh, that script. The first third is an utter mess, with essentially incoherent lines piling up on top of one another at a "madcap" pace; there are extended gags (the nailing of the board over the door, the "rape" sequence) which just aren't funny. And the Greek chorus of adults, commenting unfavorably on the "licentious" youth, is a clever idea that just doesn't come off well.

And yet it won the Palme d'Or over KWAIDAN, THE COLLECTOR, and THE IPCRESS FILE. Was it because the film felt fresh, or timely? In any case, I'd say it's one of the weakest winners.