Cannes Film Festival 2018
Premieres & Screenings
Monday the 14th
BlacKkKlansman
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Self-styled American filmmaker Spike Lee returned to Cannes official competition for the first time in nearly 30 years at the start of week two this year, bringing with him plenty of righteous anger but also humour and typical social perceptiveness with the premiere of his biographical yet timely 1970s crime/comedy ‘BlacKkKlansman’, based on Ron Stallworth’s book and extraordinary true story. It tells the tale of Stallworth himself, the first African-American officer in the Colorado Springs PD, who conducted an investigation into local Ku Klux Klan activity and managed to infiltrate David Duke’s KKK and become a fully-fledged member.
Lee brought along his stars Damaris Lewis, Jasper Paakkonen, John David Washington, Laura Harrier, Topher Grace, Adam Driver and Corey Hawkins to promote what is already being dubbed his return to form, and take a few cutting and timely shots at the current US administration—‘BlacKkKlansman’ is out on the 10th of August in the US, and the 24th of August in UK cinemas.
BlacKkKlansman press conference (courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
Asako I & II (Netemo Sametemo)
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Japan’s second Palme d’Or contender this year also got its premiere on the second Monday, as writer/director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi was joined by his stars Masahiro Higashide and Erika Karata for a screening of his first Cannes in-competition film ‘Asako I & II’—the story of a young woman whose free-spirited lover inexplicably disappears, only for her to fall for a different man who is his perfect doppelgänger two years later. ‘Asako I & II’ is out on the 1st of September in Japan, with no other release dates yet.
Asako I & II Cannes interview (courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
The Harvesters (Die Stropers)
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Monday also saw a screening of the only South African entry in this year’s festival, and a rare modern film focused on the country’s European legacy, as writer/director Etienne Kallos was joined in the Riviera by his two young leads Brent Vermeulen and Alex van Dyke for a screening of Un Certain Regard contender ‘The Harvesters’—a modern day story set in a conservative white ethnic minority Afrikaans community in the Free State region of South Africa, where a teenager’s family struggles are compounded when a street orphan is brought into the fold as his prospective new brother. ‘The Harvesters’ is out on the 13th of February 2019 in France, with no other confirmed dates.
The House That Jack Built
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Cannes would almost feel incomplete without some controversy from provocative auteur Lars von Trier, and the Danish director obliged this year with an out-of-competition gala premiere for his latest marmite concoction ‘The House That Jack Built’ . . . and got a belated birthday present when the film sparked mass screening walkouts and press condemnation. This sadistic portrait of a serial killer (and societal reflection) follows American 1970s murderer ‘Jack’, recounting the unspeakable crimes which form a persona that views brutality as art, and which seems to elude any reckoning.
Von Trier was joined on the red carpet by his stars Sofie Grabol, Bruno Ganz, Matt Dillon, Siobhan Fallon Hogan and Louise Vesth, ‘The House That Jack Built’ is out on the 29th of November in Denmark, with no other dates yet.
The House That Jack Built Cannes red carpet (courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
Tuesday the 15th
Under the Silver Lake
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Tuesday saw the second premiere for an American Palme d’Or contender this year, as writer/director David Robert Mitchell follows up his indie horror success story ‘It Follows’ with L.A. character crime/comedy ‘Under the Silver Lake’—a mystery set in the modern day ‘city of angels’ with classic Hollywood undertones and a surrealist streak, where an obsessive man plunges into the depths of the city to unravel the mystery of an enigmatic woman who inexplicably disappears.
Robert Mitchell was joined by only one of his stars Topher Grace in the Riviera, plus cinematographer Mike Gioulakis, producers Jake Weiner, Adele Romanski, Chris Bender, and composer Rich Vreeland, ‘Under the Silver Lake’ is out on the 22nd of June in the US, with no UK date yet.
Under the Silver Lake Cannes press conference (courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
At War (En Guerre)
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The second Tuesday at Cannes this year also Stéphane Brizé return to the Riviera along with his latest French drama starring Vincent Lindon, as they premiered their Palme d’Or contender ‘At War’—a timely social drama where the employees and management of an automotive company are locked in a bitter clash, after promises are broken and sacrifices are disregarded when the local factory is slated to be shut down. Brize and Lindon were on hand with the film’s co-stars Guillaume Draux and Melanie Rover, ‘At War’ has no confirmed release dates.
At War press conference (courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
Euphoria (Euforia)
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After showcasing her directorial debut at the festival in 2013, veteran Italian actress Valeria Golino returned to Cannes in Un Certain Regard contention with her second feature directorial effort ‘Euphoria’—a family drama centred around two very different adult brothers, the younger an energetic high-flying entrepeneur and the elder a more humble local teacher, who are brought back together by grim circumstance and begin to discover each other as the men they’ve become . . . with all the joy and pain that comes with it. Golino was joined by her stars Isabella Ferrari, Riccardo Scamarcio, Valerio Mastandrea, Valentina Cervi and Jasmine Trinca, ‘Euphoria’ has no confirmed release dates yet.
Solo: A Star Wars Story
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Taking full advantage of a chance for some last minute promotion, Disney made a very rare appearance at Cannes on Tuesday and gave the festival perhaps its biggest screening ever, as Legendary director Ron Howard stormed the Cannes red carpet with stars Joonas Suotamo, Thandie Newton, Woody Harrelson, Ron Howard, Emilia Clarke, Alden Ehrenreich, Donald Glover, Paul Bettany and Phoebe Waller-Bridge, for the screening of the ‘Han Solo’ origin story—and second of the Disney era ‘Star Wars’ standalone ‘Anthology’ films—‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’, out in UK cinemas on the 24th of May and virtually everywhere else by the 25th.
Solo: A Star Wars Story Cannes interview (courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
Wednesday the 16th
Burning (Beoning)
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Wednesday saw another opportunity to showcase the strength of Korean cinema as this year’s sole South Korean in-competition entry got its premiere at Cannes, in the form of festival regular Lee Chang-dong’s drama/mystery ‘Burning’—a tense and reflective portrait of modern South Korean youth revolving around a young couple and former neighbours who reunite after a long time, only to have their world uprooted when a successful and mysterious young man enters the picture, with his own hidden past and troubling predilections.
Lee Chang-dong was joined on the red carpet by stars Steven Yeun, Jong-seo Jeon and Ah-in Yoo, ‘Burning’ is out now in South Korean cinemas, with no other release dates yet.
Burning Cannes interview (courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
Dogman
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After previousyl competing for the Palme d’Or and clinching the Jury grand prize with ‘Gomorra’ and ‘Reality’, director Matteo Garrone returned to Cannes on Wednesday with Italy’s second in-competition offering ‘Dogman’—a stylish and gritty modern tale of revenge with classic western undertones, about a diminutive and unassuming dog groomer who commits to righteous vengeance against the local hard-man, who habitually humiliates him and terrorises the neighbourhood. Garrone was joined in the Riviera by his stars Edoardo Pesce, Alida Baldari Calabria and Marcello Fonte, ‘Dogman’ is out now in Italy, with no UK date yet.
Dogman press conference (courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
The Dead and the Others (Chuva É Cantoria Na Aldeia Dos Mortos)
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Wednesday also signalled some Brazilian participation in this year’s festival, as directors João Salaviza and Renée Nader Messora brought their indigenous drama ‘The Dead and the Others’ to the Un Certain Regard competition, assembling their stars Ihjac Kraho and Koto Kraho plus other members of the crew to promote the film—but didn’t miss the chance at some customary Cannes protesting, making clear their opposition the Brazilian government’s moves to open up protected indigenous lands to commercial and agricultural exploitation.
The film itself tells the story of a young indigenous teenager who turns his back on his tribal responsibilities and runs to the big city, only to be confronted by the realities of being indigenous in modern day Brazil, ‘The Dead and the Others’ has no confirmed release dates yet.
The Dead and the Others at Cannes (courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
Thursday the 17th
Capernaum (Cafarnaúm)
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Actress turned writer/director Nadine Labaki graced the red carpet on Thursday in all three filmmaking capacities, as she premiered Lebanon’s in-competition entrant (and eventual jury prize winner) this year ‘Capernaum’—a realist modern street parable featuring a mostly amateur cast, about a boy who sues his neglectful parents for dealing him a cruel blow . . . giving him life. Labaki was joined by producer/composer Khaled Mouzanar and her young stars Zain Alrafeea and Yordanos Shifera, ‘Capernaum’ has no release dates yet.
Capernaum press conference (courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
Knife + Heart (Un Couteau Dans le Coeur)
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Thursday also saw another French Palme d’Or contender make its debut, as Yann Gonzalez returned to the festival flanked by his stars Nicolas Maury, Kate Moran and Vanessa Paradis for a screening of his latest LGBT drama ‘Knife + Heart’—a gritty late 70s thriller set in the world of gay porn, where a struggling producer embarks on a mission to win back her lover by producing her most ambitious film yet, only to get caught up in tragedy and surreal criminality when one of her stars is brutally murdered. ‘Knife + Heart’ is out on the 20th of June in France, with no other dates yet.
Knife + Heart Cannes interview (courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
In My Room
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We were also treated to some German participation on Thursday when writer/director Ulrich Köhler brought Un Certain Regard competing drama ‘In My Room’ to the Riviera—the story of a man bored with life, love and the world around him, who wakes to find that humanity has inexplicably vanished and is forced to face the reality of absolute freedom. Köhler was joined by his leads Elena Radonicich and Hans Löw, ‘In My Room’ is out on the 25th of May in French cinemas, with no other confirmed dates.
Friday the 18th
Ayka
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The second Friday at Cannes this year brought some Palme d’Or participation from Kazakhstan, as writer/director Sergei Dvortsevoy was accompanied by his star Samal Yeslyamova for an in-competition premiere of their gritty street drama ‘Ayka’—the story of a young new mother with no money, no job or place to live, and no way to support a baby, but whose maternal instincts compel her to struggle and try. ‘Ayka’ has no current release dates.
Ayka Cannes interview (courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
The Wild Pear Tree (Ahlat Ağaci)
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The penultimate day at this year’s festival also saw Turkish cinema step into the Cannes limelight, with director Nuri Bilge Ceylan joining the joust for the Palme d’Or with his pensive three-hour hour drama ‘The Wild Pear Tree’—a reflective rural tale centred around a budding writer, whose return to his childhood village to pursue his dream of being published is soured by family strife and the burdens left by his father. Bilge Ceylan attended along with co-writer Ebru Ceylan and stars Dogu Demirkol, Murat Cemcir, Bennu Yildirimlar and Hazar Erguclu, ‘The Wild Pear Tree’ is out on the 1st of November in The Netherlands, with no other releases yet.
The Wild Pear Tree Cannes interview (courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
Manto
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Friday also saw Indian involvement in this year’s festival and projected a view of the country’s film industry at odds with the ‘Bollywood’ image, as Indian star turned director Nandita Das brought her biographical period drama and Un Certain Regard contender ‘Manto’ to the Riviera. Set during the turmoil of Indian partition during the 1940s, and focused on one of the most revered and controversial writers of the time Saadat Hasan Manto, as he left his native Bombay for the new nation of Pakistan, and faced personal struggle while being caught between two raging worlds. Das was joined at the festival by her stars Tahir Raj Bhasin, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Rasika Dugal, ‘Manto’ has no confirmed release dates yet.
Manto at Cannes (courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
Saturday the 19th
The Man Who Killed Don Quixote
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The near thirty-year saga of Terry Gilliam’s quest to make a ‘Don Quixote’ movie finally came to an end on the final day at Cannes this year, as the singular director closed the festival with an out-of-competition premiere of his loose and surreal take on the Miguel de Cervantes classic with ‘The Man Who Killed Don Quixote’.
This self-referential filmmaking fable follows the fate of a jaded advertising executive, who is plunged into a time-jumping adventure when a cobbler with Don Quixote delusions mistakes him for his trusty sidekick Sancho Panza—as he is drawn deeper into the man’s madness only to embrace and become lost in it, and find humanity in the process . . . with parabolic results for the audience. Gilliam was joined on the red carpet by nearly the entire cast, including Sergi Lopez, Tony Grisoni, Oscar Jaenada, Gregoire Melin, Jordi Molla, Rossy de Palma, Terry Gilliam, Stellan Skarsgard, Adam Driver, Joana Ribeiro and Jonathan Pryce. ‘The Man Who Killed Don Quixote’ is out now in Spain, with no UK date yet.
The Man Who Killed Don Quixote Cannes interview (courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
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