Inventive, oneirical at times, sometimes absurdly humorous, Argentinian filmmaker Rodrigo Moreno’s “Los Delincuentes” (“The criminals” in the original Spanish) was a pleasure to discover for its originality. Moran, A high-level bank employee comes up with an elaborate plan to divert a bag of cash from his employer. In the commission of his crime he involves another employee, one whose code of ... more >
FESTIVALS
“LOS DELINQUENTES”; directed by Rodrigo Moreno | Cannes
Film shown in the non-competition slate Un Certain Regard
Esteban Bigliardi, Margarita Molfino and Mariana Chaud
Directed by Rodrigo Moreno
Going back over “LE RETOUR”; directed by Catherine Corsini | Cannes
This film is competing for the Palme d'Or
Aïssatou Diallo Sagna, Suzy Bemba, Esther Gohourou and Denis Podalydès
Directed by Catherine Corsini
On Wednesday I watched two films that treated the same subject, youth, “Monster” and later in the night, “Le Retour” by Catherine Corsini who was in Cannes previously with “La Fracture.” “Le Retour” (“The Return” in the original French), there isn’t much new left to say about anything where concerns young adulthood. It’s a time for exploring, trying on various selves, observing and mimicking ... more >
Koreeda Hirokazu’s “MONSTER” | Cannes
A mother confronts a teacher after her son behaves strangely
Sakura Ando, Eita Nagayama and Mitsuki Takahata
Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda
In Hirokazu Kore-eda’s “Monster,” competing for Palme D’Or, a small boy and his mother, the father dead and buried, the boy’s in school and the mother works in a dry-cleaners. At the start of the film a building in their neighborhood catches fire and they watch from the balcony, mother and son looking more like two friends. She’s carefree, unaffected by the pressures of raising a son but vigilant ... more >
“Jeanne du Barry” directed by Maïwenn, opens 76th edition | Cannes
Film premiered today out of competition
Seventeen years, that’s a long time to prepare a film, and it’s how long actress-director Maïwenn has spent on “Jeanne Du Barry,” which inaugurates the Cannes Festival today, a film that’s a nod to Sofia Coppola’s “Marie Antoinette” which was shown here in 2006, but also a nod to the past since real-life Marie-Antoinette became Louis XVI's wife, ending the courtesan's favored place in the ... more >
Change at the top, some firsts, Rohrwacher, Moretti and Bellocchio and expectations | Cannes
Opening day
Weather report: rain expected with a chance of unionist fracas
CANNES, FRANCE - Some firsts at the Cannes Festival which starts today, an Italian contingent in the competition slate and what I look forward to the most this year. At the helm of the festival this 76th edition a woman, Iris Knobloch, who replaces Pierre Lescure as president of the festival after a tenure that lasted six years. Programmer Thierry Frémaux and she already know each other well ... more >
CANNES FESTIVAL: Kirill Serebrennikov finally here in Cannes to present TCHAIKOVSKY’S WIFE
This is the third time the Russian filmmaker is selected at the Cannes Festival
Alyona Mikhailova, Odin Lund Biron and Miron Fedorov
Directed by Kirill Serebrennikov
CANNES, France — The euphoric “Leto,” shown in Cannes a few years ago (and a film everyone in the press room could agree on), “Petrov’s Flu,” in 2021, a hard-to-follow angsty dream of a movie which you might better enjoy on LSD and if you don’t do LSD then it’s OK because watching it will make you feel like you’re on it and this year in Cannes, “Tchaikovsky’s wife” (“Zhena Chaikovskogo” in the ... more >
CANNES FESTIVAL: Marco Bellocchio’s ESTERNO NOTTE revisits the kidnapping and subsequent murder of Aldo Moro
Film acts as counterweight to “Good morning, Night” which Bellocchio directed in 2003
Fabrizio Gifuni, Margherita Buy and Toni Servillo
Directed by Marco Bellocchio
CANNES, France — Marco Bellocchio's "Esterno Notte" ("Exterior Night") is an essential and dramatic film that soberly tells the truth of an important period of Italy’s history, a pivotal moment, the kidnapping and killing of Aldo Moro, former President of Italy. "Esterno Notte" is a made-for-TV miniseries, six episodes that were combined and screened on Wednesday in Cannes in the Cannes ... more >