“Could you turn on the lights in the house?”Thierry Frémauxwants to see the media gathered inside the UGC movie theater on the Champs-Elysees for the annual rendez-vous where he announces the selection for the Cannes Film Festival. Frémaux and Pierre Lescure, festival director and president respectively, revealed the contenders for the 70th Palme d’Or as well as the side competitions and special screenings.
For this anniversary edition, 1,930 features films were submitted, with only 18 making the cut in competition (although a couple of more films will likely be added).
This year’s Cannes is held in an interesting context, both for the French and the international community. The festival will open only a few days after the French presidential election. There is also the shadow of current affairs lingering, namely Syria, North Korea and anything President Trump does - or tweets. “We want the 70th anniversary to be festive,” Lescure said today. Yet the selection is politically and socially charged. “Cannes is a breathing space, but cinema is reflection of the world and Cannes cannot ignore that.”
French directorArnaud Desplechinopens the festival on May 17 with the out-of-competitionLes Fantômes d’Ismaël, and the following ten days promise to be rich in diversity.Michael Hanekewill contend for his third Palme d’Or withHappy End(an ironic title if you’re familiar with his style), where he revisits his own cinema and his political and aesthetic motivations.François Ozon, who releases a movie each year, is rarely seen on the Croisette, but this year he competes withL’Amant Double, a story which Frémaux describes as “Hitchcockian/De Palmian/Cronenbergian.” Another Gallic director rarely seen on the Croisette isJacques Doillon, who will screenRodin, while Oscar winnerMichel Hazanaviciusis presenting his third film in competition.The Artistdirector returns withLe Redoutable
Some of the not anticipated films includeWonderstruckbyTodd Haynes;The Day AfterbyHong Sangsoo;In the Fade, starringDiane Kruger, byFatih Akin;The Meyerowitz Stories, starringAdam SandlerandDustin Hoffman, byNoah Baumbachmarking his first time in competition; andOkja, byBong Joon-Ho, marking the first original Netflix production in competition. The festival also acceptedLynne Ramsay’sYou Were Never Really Herewhich Frémaux said was not yet done but was accepted with three scenes still to shoot.
Nicole KidmanandColin Farrellwill spend a great deal of time on the red carpet stairs together as they both star inThe Killing of a Sacred DeerbyYorgos LanthimosandThe Beguiledby Sofia Coppola.
There are no Coen or Dardenne brothers this year, but I’ very excited about the Safdies.Benny and Josh Safdiewill presentGood Time, starringRobert Pattinson.
While films from former Eastern Bloc countries are regularly on the festival circuit, Russia and Ukraine have been sadly “lagging behind.” ButSergei Loznitsa’sA Gentle Creature, a road movie taking place in deep Russia, looks promising.
Current events inspire filmmakers andKornel Mandruczo’sJupiter’s Moontackles the refugee and migrant issue in competition. The special screenings certainly reflect the social and political upheaval. As Frémaux said, “The festival itself is not political; it is the auteurs who are.
A decade ago (already?),Al Gorepresented AnInconvenient Truthin Cannes. The former vice president returns withAn Inconvenient Sequel, directed byBonny CohenandJon Shenk.
Claude Lanzmannrevisits North Korea inNapalm, whileJude Ratmanprovides insight on the civil war in Sri Lanka inDemons in Paradise.Actress and activistVanessa Redgraveis apparently so excited that her documentary about migration,Sea Sorrow, has been selected that she emails Frémaux every two days saying how happy she is!Raymond Depardonmarks a comeback with12 JoursandAnahita Ghazvinizadeh, winner of last year’s Caméra d’Or, presents her first film,They.Eugene Jareckifeatures a new take on Elvis and America inPromised Land, whileHong Sangsoo’sClair’s Camera, filmed last year in Cannes during the festival with Isabelle Huppert, sounds tongue-in-cheek.
Cannes is also an introspection of past and future. It is like a lab, and this year the festival is featuring the first film in virtual reality. Screened as part of an installation in an exhibition,Carne y Arenais a seven-minute short directed byAlejandro Gonzales Inarritu. The exhibition will then travel to the Prado in Milan and the LACMA in Los Angeles.
As innovations grow, the list of female directors is also progressing each year - 12 in 2017.Jane Campion, the festival’s only female Palme d’Or, is also attending to screen her seriesTop of the Lake: China Girl, whileKristen Stewartwill debut her short,Come Swim.
Both are part of the 70th anniversary special events, alongside a tribute to the lateAbbas Kiarostamiand his last film24 Framesand a screening of two episodes ofDavid Lynch’sTwin Peaks. Is Cannes creating a category for series, like the Berlinale? It is highly unlikely. Frémaux was quick to point out that Jane Campion and David Lynch are both filmmakers and Cannes remains exclusively dedicated to film.
The Un Certain Regard side competition also looks rich, opening withMathieu Amalric’sBarbaraabout the legendary French singer. Some of the most anticipated films includeKiyoshi Kurosawa’sBefore We Vanish,Laurent Cantet’sL’Atelier,Sergio Castellitto’sFortunataandMichel Franco’sApril’s Daughter.SicarioandHell or High WaterwriterTaylor Sheridanis also presenting hisWind River.
This year’s official competition jury is presided byPedro Almodovar. The members of the jury will be announced soon, but there are some rumors already, including two American actresses - a redhead named Jessica and a girl once in love with a sparkly vampire…
The Cannes Film Festival runs from May 17th to May 28th. France is still in a state of emergency and security will once again be at maximum.
Opening film:
Arnaud DESPLECHIN -LES FANTÔMES D’ISMAËL(Out of competition)
Competition:
Fatih AKIN -AUS DEM NICHTS(IN THE FADE)
Noah BAUMBACH -THE MEYEROWITZ STORIES
BONG Joon-Ho-OKJA
Robin CAMPILLO -120 BATTEMENTS PAR MINUTE
Sofia COPPOLA -THE BEGUILED
Jacques DOILLON -RODIN
Michael HANEKE -HAPPY END
Todd HAYNES -WONDERSTRUCK
Michel HAZANAVICIUS -LE REDOUTABLE
HONG Sangsoo -GEU-HU(THE DAY AFTER)
Naomi KAWASE –HIKARI(RADIANCE)
Yorgos LANTHIMOS -THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER
Sergei LOZNITSA -A GENTLE CREATURE
Kornél MUNDRUCZÓ -JUPITER’S MOON
François OZON -L’AMANT DOUBLE
Lynne RAMSAY -YOU WERE NEVER REALLY HERE
Benny SAFDIE & Josh SAFDIE -GOOD TIME
Andrey ZVYAGINTSEV –NELYUBOV(LOVELESS)
Mathieu AMALRIC -BARBARA
Cecilia ATAN & Valeria PIVATO -LA NOVIA DEL DESIERTO(THE DESERT BRIDE)
Kantemir BALAGOV -TESNOTA(CLOSENESS)
Kaouther BEN HANIA -AALA KAF IFRIT(BEAUTY AND THE DOGS)
