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. 

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. 

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 Rúnar Rúnarsson

When the Light Breaks, directed by Rúnar Rúnarsson, 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. 

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.