Monday, 27 May 2024

Cannes 2024 - Awards and comments


When Greta Gerwig was announced as this year's president of the jury, on the back of her Barbie's triumph, there were a few uncharitable comments about her suitability, especially given her lack of history with the festival. And yet, with her jury they gave out maybe the most flawless list of awards in many, many years. Time will tell of course and it is always interesting to see the momentum the awarded films sustain... or not over the following months. But for now, what an exciting end to this year's edition.

Friday, 24 May 2024

Cannes 2024 - Flow by Glint Zilbalodis




Animated films remain a rarity in Cannes especially European so the inclusion of the Latvian Flow was a welcome surprise in the Un Certain Regard selection.  Set in a mystical, post-apocalyptic world seemingly abandoned by humanity, the film follows a young cat and a group of animals as they band together to navigate a landscape that is both hauntingly beautiful and perilously unforgiving. 

Thursday, 23 May 2024

Cannes 2024 - Grand Tour by Miguel Gomes




Miguel Gomes’s Grand Tour is a sprawling, sumptuous exploration of love, longing, and the ghosts of colonialism. Set against the backdrop of early 20th-century Asia, the film follows a woman named Molly as she chases an impossible romantic dream. What begins as a journey rooted in the tropes of colonial-era storytelling quickly transforms into something far more complex and subversive, as Gomes deftly upends gender stereotypes and delivers a deeply moving meditation on self-determination and desire. 

Wednesday, 22 May 2024

Cannes 2024 - Misericordia by Alain Giraudie


Alain Guiraudie took the festival by storm in 2013 with his Stranger by the Lake shown at Un Certain Regard yet his following films failed to make as much as an impact, even when he was upgraded to the competition for his Restez Vertical (2015).

His latest offering, Misericordia, is a return to form with a work that is deceptively low-key yet captivating, blending elements of psychological drama and subtle surrealism, with more depth than it first appears. Within its setting of a seemingly tranquil and unremarkable village, Guiraudie meticulously constructs a web of carnal desires, slowly revealing the hidden emotions of the characters under their jovial facades, with a slow pace of life punctuated by many social visits invariably involving an aperitif. 

Tuesday, 21 May 2024

Cannes 2024 - Anora by Sean Baker




Sean Baker’s Anora is exactly the kind of film only he could make, a brash, loud, and unapologetically vibrant portrait of life on the margins, infused with chaotic comedic energy and a lingering tinge of sadness. Following the story of Anora or Ani as she wants to be called, an lap dancer trying to carve out a better life for herself, the film is a whirlwind of emotions, anchored by a phenomenal, star making performance from Mikey Madison. 

Cannes 2024 - The Shrouds by David Cronenberg


In The Shrouds, prominent businessman Karsh (Vincent Cassel), inconsolable since the death of his wife Becca (Diane Kruger),  invents a revolutionary and controversial technology that allows the living to monitor their deceased loved ones in their graves. 

While the synopsis sounds very David Cronenberg indeed, those expecting graphic horror and the kind of gasp inducing moments delivered in his most celebrated films will be sorely disappointed. With its glacial pace, a tone that verges on the detached at times but with a surprising humour at other times, very dialogue heavy in some parts but with a lowkey dreamlike quality in others, this feels very him while still a departure from his usual style in some ways.

Monday, 20 May 2024

Cannes 2024 - Rumours by Guy Maddin




Guy Maddin’s Rumours is a film that defies easy categorisation, a surreal, deadpan political horror comedy that feels like The Thick of It directed by Jean Rollin, with a dash of Eurotrash absurdity thrown in for good measure. Set in the misty woods surrounding a castle at night, the film follows a group of G7 leaders who become stranded during a summit and must navigate a series of increasingly bizarre and unsettling events. 

The first act is absolutely hilarious, with Cate Blanchett, who plays the German chancellor, delivering an unhinged performance complete with a comedy German accent and she is complemented by the ensemble supporting cast around her, a game ensemble of international actors who match her energy and keep the film engaging, at least for a while. Maddin’s sharp wit and knack for absurdity shine through in moments of biting political satire and surreal visual gags. One particularly memorable scene involves the leaders attempting and failing to draft a joint statement, a sad indictment on the standstill world politics seem to be at the moment. 

Cannes 2024 - The Substance by Coralie Fargeat



Genre cinema still remains a rarity in Cannes outside the midnight screenings and especially in competition so the presence of Coralie Fargeat 's second film after Revenge and the few mysterious stills recently released were intriguing. Yet from its very first scenes all the way to its glorious finale, its inclusion feels more than justified. 

The story follows a fading Hollywood star, Elisabeth Sparkle, stuck in post glory fitness TV hell, who loses her job just as she turns 50 and who goes through a mysterious, experimental procedure to regain her youth, the substance. What begins as a Faustian bargain quickly spirals into a nightmarish descent as her new, idealised self (a game Margaret Qualley begins to eclipse her original identity, leading to battle for (self) control.

Sunday, 19 May 2024

Cannes 2024 - Black Dog by Guan Hu




Guan Hu’s Black Dog is a film of quiet power and understated beauty, a story that explores the unlikely bond between an ex-convict and a stray dog against the backdrop of a rapidly changing China. Unsentimental yet deeply warm, the film is filled with a melancholic and lingering poetry. It is also a meditation on redemption, resilience, and the fragile connections that sustain us, set against the harsh but breathtaking landscapes of the Gobi Desert. 

Saturday, 18 May 2024

Cannes 2024 - Three Kilometres to the End of the World by Emanuel Parvu



Emanuel Parvu’s Three Thousand Kilometres to the End of the World is a film that lingers in the mind long after the credits roll, a quietly devastating exploration of prejudice, systemic corruption, and the suffocating weight of silence. Set in a picturesque Romanian village, the film contrasts its idyllic surroundings with the psychological violence simmering beneath the surface, creating a tension that is as unsettling as it is compelling. 

Cannes 2024 - Bird by Andrea Arnold




Andrea Arnold’s Bird begins as a quintessential Andrea Arnold film: gritty, intimate, and unflinchingly real. Shot in her signature style, with handheld cameras and natural lighting, the film immerses you in the lives of its characters from the very first frame. But as the story unfolds, it reveals a depth of emotion and an unexpected tenderness that transcends Arnold’s usual social realism. By the end, Bird becomes something profoundly poetic, a film that lingers in the heart long after the credits roll. 

Cannes 2024 - Kinds of Kindness by Yorgos Lanthimos




Yorgos Lanthimos’s Kinds of Kindness is a return to the director’s roots: a dark, surreal, and confrontational anthology that feels like a feature-length plunge into The Twilight Zone. Comprising three interconnected yet distinct stories, the film is a showcase of Lanthimos’s signature absurdity, biting humor, and unsettling exploration of human's unkind behaviour. While it may not reach the brilliance of The Favourite and especially Poor Things, Kinds of Kindness is a fascinating, if uneven, addition to his filmography. 

Friday, 17 May 2024

Cannes 2024 - Twilight of the Warriors: Walled in by Son Cheang




Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In is the kind of film that wears its heart on its sleeve, a hilariously sentimental crime epic that is all about friendship, loyalty, and the power of community. Directed by Soi Cheang, this Hong Kong action extravaganza is a riot of fabulous fight sequences, jaw-dropping stunt work, and an incredible set design that immerses you in its gritty, neon-soaked world. Yes, it’s cheesy, and yes, it leans heavily into melodrama, but it’s also undeniably great fun, a crowd-pleaser that delivers on both spectacle and heart. 


Cannes 2024 - The Girl with the Needle by Magnus von Horn




The Girl with the Needle, directed by Magnus von Horn, is a film that doesn’t just demand your attention it grabs it and refuses to let go. Relentlessly grim and unashamedly arthouse, this Danish historical drama is a harrowing exploration of morality, desperation, and the human capacity for both cruelty and compassion. 

Set in post-World War I Copenhagen, the film tells the story of Karoline (Victoria Carmen Sonne), a young factory worker who becomes entangled in the dark world of illegal adoptions, and Dagmar (Trine Dyrholm), a midwife with a chilling secret. From the very first frame, von Horn establishes a nightmarish atmosphere that permeates every aspect of the film. 

Thursday, 16 May 2024

Cannes 2024 - Wild Diamond by Agathe Riedinger




Agathe Riedinger’s Wild Diamond is a tough, uncompromising film that captures the turbulence of adolescence with unflinching honesty and a surprising touch of lyricism. Set against the backdrop of social media obsession and the relentless pursuit of fame, the film tells the story of Lia (Malou Khebizi), a teenage girl desperate to escape her working-class reality. 

Riedinger’s debut is a visually arresting and emotionally resonant exploration of identity, aspiration, and the cost of chasing dreams in a world that often feels indifferent. From the opening scenes, Wild Diamond establishes itself as a film unafraid to confront harsh realities. Riedinger’s direction is bold and assured, blending gritty realism in a style that we are more accustomed to see in British cinema than French one, with moments of poetic beauty. The camera lingers on Lia’s world—a cramped apartment, a sun-drenched beach, the glow of a smartphone screen—creating a vivid portrait of her inner and outer life. 

Cannes 2024 - Megalopolis by Francis Ford Coppola



Seeing Francis Ford Coppola's passion project, Megalopolis, in gestation for decades, finally being made and screening here in competition in Cannes seems so surreal and is also such a massive gamble, given the scrutiny and exposure the festival offers.

In Megalopolis, an ambitious architect, Cesar Catilina (Adam Driver), sees his utopian plans of transforming New Rome following a disaster challenged by the scheming of the city's corrupt mayor Franklyn Cicero (Giancarlo Esposito) and his daughter Wow Platinum (Aubrey Plaza).

Cannes 2024 - When The Light Breaks by RĂșnar RĂșnarsson




When the Light Breaks, directed by RĂșnar RĂșnarsson, is a poignant exploration of teenage love, deception, friendship, and grief. Set against the backdrop of Iceland's landscapes, the film delves into the complex emotions of its young protagonists, with a script that is both subtle and profoundly moving. 

The story unfolds over a single day, introducing us to Una and Diddi, two art students deeply entwined in a clandestine relationship. Their bond is palpable as they share dreams of future travels and intimate moments by the ocean, a scene that has this youth-like quality of feeling endless yet fleeting. However, tragedy strikes early on, with Diddi's untimely death in a tunnel accident, leaving Una to navigate the tumultuous waters of grief and secrecy. 

Wednesday, 15 May 2024

Cannes 2024 - The Second Act by Quentin Dupieux


For many years the Cannes Film Festival seemed to struggle to find an exciting opening film and there were several "quality" period dramas that baffled everyone. On a completely unrelated note we are celebrating the ten years anniversary of Grace of Monaco opening the festival ten years ago. Yet recently the festival has decided to have some fun, with comedies such as The Dead don't Die and even the hilarious zombie horror remake Coupez! taking this prestigious slot. After a diversion back to period drama with Madame du Barry last year, in 2024 it was time to laugh again.