The 76th Festival de Cannes comes to an end after nearly two weeks of screenings and highlights. The festival has provided a privileged platform for world cinema, presenting films of different genres and themes from all over the world.
The closing gala will take place this Saturday night, where the coveted Palme d’Or will be awarded to one of the 21 films in competition. During the festival, family and couple dramas dominated the attention of audiences and critics alike.
Among the standout films was Tran Anh Hung’s “La passion de Dodin Bouffant,” which tells the story of a chef couple in the 19th century and their ability to combine cooking and love in the midst of the MeToo movement. Also praised is Ramata-Toulaye Sy’s “Bane et Adama,” a debut feature that tells the moving story of a couple subjected to the will of an African village.
Another relevant film is “Anatomie d’une chute,” directed by Justine Triet, which tells the story of a mysterious woman facing trial after the bizarre death of her depressed husband in the mountains. In addition, British director Jonathan Glazer’s “The Zone of Interest” has made an impact with its chilling depiction of the daily life of the Nazi commandant in Auschwitz.
The festival has also presented films that explore sensitive and controversial topics. Todd Haynes’ “May December” tackles the issue of sex with minors years after the drama, while Catherine Breillat’s “L’été dernier” explores the torments of a mature woman involved with a young man who is her husband’s son.
In addition to family and couple dramas, the festival also showcased historical and eclectic films. Some of these include Karim Ainouz’s “Firebrand,” which chronicles the life of King Henry VIII’s last wife, Catherine Parr, and Ken Loach’s “The Old Oak,” a somber film about the arrival of Syrian refugees in Britain.
In short, the Cannes Film Festival has been a diverse and exciting platform for showcasing films from around the world, spanning a wide range of genres, subject matter, and moving, provocative, and dreamy stories.