Cannes Film Festival 2021
Over a year since a global pandemic nixed the full 2020 version and a couple of months after its traditional date, the world’s most prestigious film festival finally returns to the French Riviera as the great and the good of global cinema gathered for the 74th annual Cannes Film Festival.
As films and their makers from across the globe tentatively gathered for a streamlined, socially-distanced but nevertheless in-person presentation of their hard work and passion, the media and selected audiences got a valuable glimpse of the likely award-contending films to be released throughout the rest of 2021 and well into 2022, both in competition and out. Meanwhile a patient Spike Lee finally took up the presidency of this year’s main competition jury, which eventually awarded the prestigious Palme d’Or to Julia Ducournau’s ‘Titane’.
So let’s break down some of the major films and players in this year’s much anticipated and long overdue festival.
Jury
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Once again jury for the main competition—which awarded the Palme d’Or among other prizes—was an eclectic selection of filmmakers and artists presided over by Oscar-winning American writer/director Spike Lee and included French-Senegalese director Mati Diop, French-Canadian singer Mylène Farmer, American actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, Austrian writer/director Jessica Hausner, French actress Mélanie Laurent, Brazilian writer/director Kleber Mendonça Filho, French actor Tahar Rahim and South Korean actor Song Kang-ho.
Jury press conference (courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
Premieres & Screenings
Tuesday the 6th
Annette
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This year’s festival began in idiosyncratic musical style when singular French writer/director and Cannes regular Leos Carax returned to Riviera with slick company and backed by Amazon, opening proceedings with a gala world premiere of his mysterious hybrid musical drama ‘Annette’, written and scored by the Mael brothers of American pop/rock duo ‘Sparks’. A contemporary L.A. tale which follows the relationship of an intense and troubled stand-up comedian and a celebrated opera singer, whose glamorous lives are turned upside down by the arrival of their exceptional daughter.
Carax was flanked on the Cannes red carpet by his stars Adam Driver, Marion Cotillard, Angèle and Simon Helberg, plus Ron and Russell Mael, ‘Annette’ is out on Amazon Prime on the 20th of August, and in UK cinemas on the 3rd of September.
Annette press conference (courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
Wednesday the 7th
Everything Went Fine (Tout S’est Bien Passé)
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Day 2 at the festival saw the return of another Cannes regular when François Ozon made yet another trip to the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès in competition mode with the premiere of his latest confronting human drama ‘Everything Went Well’. The story of a middle-aged French woman who’s plunged into a personal and existential crisis when her ailing and suffering elderly father asks for a final favour she can’t contemplate granting—helping to end his life.
The writer/director was joined by his stars Sophie Marceau, André Dussollier and Geraldine Pailhas, ‘Everything Went Fine’ is out on the 22nd of September in France, with no UK date yet.
Everything Went Fine press conference (courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
Ahed’s Knee (Ha’Berech)
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The day’s second official competition entry saw another return to the festival but from further afield, as Israeli writer/director Nadav Lapid brought his stars Nur Fibak and Avshalom Pollak for a premiere of his own contemporary human drama ‘Ahed’s Knee’. A story set in modern day Israel and following a filmmaker’s plunge into two unwinnable wars, against the death of freedom in his country and against the death of a mother. ‘Ahed’s Knee’ is out on the 15th of September in France with no UK date yet.
Ahed’s Knee press conference (courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle
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Wednesday also saw some Japanese participation when French actor/director Arthur Harari opened the ‘Un Certain Regard’ competition with ‘Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle’—a post war tale based on a true story, following a determined Japanese soldier who retreats deep into the island jungles of the Philippines after his country surrenders at the end of World War II, where he continues his own war for nearly three extra decades. Harari was in attendance with some of his crew but not the Japanese cast thanks to travel restrictions, ‘Onoda: 10,000 Nights in the Jungle’ is out on the 21st of July in France, with no UK date yet.
Onoda trailer (courtesy of UniFrance)
Thursday the 8th
The Worst Person in the World (Verdens Verste Menneske)
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The first Thursday this year brought Scandinavian interest to the competition when Norwegian writer/director Joachim Trier returned to the Riviera with his contemporary character dramedy ‘The Worst Person in the World’. A four year chronicle in the life of a woman in an existential crisis after she turns thirty, struggling with commitment and dwelling on squandered potential while forging a new relationship path, which may just highlight what is already gone for good.
Trier was joined on the red carpet by his co-writer Eskil Vogt and his stars Renate Reinsve, Anders Danielsen Lie and Herbert Nordrum, ‘The Worst Person in the World’ is out in November in Sweden and France, with no UK date yet.
The Worst Person in the World red carpet (courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
Lingui
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Africa also made its mark on the official competition on Thursday when Chadian writer/director and Cannes regular Mahamat-Saleh Haroun returned to the festival with morality play and human drama ‘Lingui’. A story set in Chad and following a Muslim mother whose life is thrown into turmoil when her teenage daughter becomes pregnant and chooses to abort the child in a country where it’s morally and legally prohibited. Haroun was on hand with his stars Bria Gomdigue, Achouackh Abakar, Rihane Khalil Alio and Hadje Fatime Ngoua, ‘Lingui’ has no confirmed dates yet.
Lingui red carpet (courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
After Yang
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The pick of Thursday’s Un Certain Regard entries brought American involvement and some rare subtle sci-fi participation to the festival in the form of South Korean-American filmmaker Kogonada’s near-future family drama ‘After Yang’. A tale of loss and connection about a father who re-discovers a life left for granted and a relationship with his wife and young daughter when their A.I. android helper and companion Yang unexpectedly breaks down. The writer/director was joined by his stars Jodie Turner-Smith, Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja and Haley Lu Richardson, ‘After Yang’ has no confirmed UK or US dates yet.
After Yang photocall (courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
Stillwater
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Thursday also brought a bit of Hollywood star power when actor-tuned-director Tom McCarthy made his Cannes debut in an out-of-competition capacity, bringing along his stars Matt Damon, Abigail Breslin, Camille Cottin and Lilou Siauvaud for a premier of ‘Stillwater’. A contemporary human drama with echoes of a notorious and controversial recent Italian case, following hard-working oil-rigger from Oklahoma who is dragged to France when his estranged daughter is sentenced to prison for a murder of which she claims to be innocent, as he becomes determined to set her free while dealing with the hardships of a foreign legal system and media, and befriending a local family. ‘Stillwater’ is out on the 30th of July in the US, and on the 6th of August in the UK.
Stillwater press conference (courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
Friday the 9th
Benedetta
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The first Friday at this year’s festival saw the one and only Paul Verhoeven return to both the Riviera and French film in competition mode, and with him as always comes daring unapologetic cinema, this year in the form of iconoclastic period piece ‘Benedetta’. A tale of religion and repression set in 17th century Italy, where a gifted nun’s relationship with God and a burgeoning bond with a fellow sister develops into a risky romance as she begins having disturbing and erotic religious visions.
The Dutch director was joined on the red carpet by his stars Olivier Rabourdin, Daphne Patakia, Virginie Efira and Clotilde Courau, ‘Benedetta’ is out now in France, with no UK date yet.
Benedetta trailer (courtesy of Pathe)
The Divide (La Fracture)
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The second of Friday’s competition contenders was another French affair but a contemporary socio-political one in the form of writer/director Catherine Corsini character drama ‘The Divide’. A film to reflect our divided times set against the backdrop of the “yellow vests” protest in Paris, where a couple’s relationship stands on a knife-edge as they find themselves stuck in a hospital surrounded by chaos outside, as tensions rise and they are confronted by an angry injured demonstrator who makes them re-think their lives. Corsini was joined on the red carpet by her stars Marina Foïs, Pio Marmai, Aissatou Diallo Sagna and Valeria Bruni Tedeschi ‘The Divide’ has no confirmed dates yet.
The Divide press conference (courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
Mothering Sunday
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Outside of competition screenings, Friday also saw the return of French writer/director Eva Husson to the festival with a British proposition and one her stars Josh O’Connor plus producer Elizabeth Karlsen for a special Cannes premiere of their English period drama ‘Mothering Sunday’. Adapted from the Graham Swift novel and set in post World War I England, it follows the fate of a young maid at a country estate and her risky determination to meet with her neighbouring noble heir lover before he leaves to marry another woman. The film has no confirmed release dates.
Mothering Sunday Cannes 1st look clip (courtesy of The Playlist)
Saturday the 10th
Flag Day
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Saturday brought some real Hollywood muscle to the Riviera with the return of director and star Sean Penn, bringing along with him an in-competition premiere of his very personal true story father-daughter crime drama ‘Flag Day’. A story based on real events following a young American woman whose life is turned upside down when she discovers that her doting and beloved father moonlights as a wanted counterfeiter and con-man, forcing her to confront a past she never new and relationship which shaped her life.
Penn was joined on the red carpet by his real daughter and co-star Dylan Penn, along with Katheryn Winnick, Jadyn Rylee and Beckam Crawford, ‘Flag Day’ is out on the 20th of August in the US, with no UK date yet.
Flag Day press conference (courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
Compartment Number 6 (Hytti Nro 6)
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The day’s second official competition entry was an Arctic affair which saw Cannes regular Juho Kuosmanen return to the festival as the Finnish filmmaker premiered his latest insightful working-class human drama ‘Compartment Number 6’. A story set in Russia and following a young Finnish woman who escapes a Moscow affair by taking a train northwards to an Arctic town, only to meet a selection of fellow passengers who change her perspective on life and human connection. Kuosmanen was in town flanked by his stars Seidi Haarla and Yuriy Borisov, ‘Compartment Number 6’ has no confirmed dates yet.
Compartment Number 6 red carpet (courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
Love Song for Tough Guys (Cette Musique ne Joue Pour Personne)
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This first Saturday’s special out-of-competition premiere saw French actor Samuel Benchetrit return to the festival but in a directorial capacity alongside his stars Jules Benchetrit, Bruno Podalydes, Ramzy Bedia, Vanessa Paradis and Valeria Bruni Tedesch for a special screening of their working-class tribute to artistry ‘Love Song for Tough Guys’. An unlikely tale of love set in a French port city riddled with crime and violence, where a few isolated people find meaning through a unique human connection. ‘Love Song for Tough Guys’ is out on the 1st of September in France, with no UK date yet.
Love Song for Tough Guys trailer (courtesy of UGC Distribution)
Sunday the 11th
Three Floors (Tre piani)
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The end of week one this year saw some Italian participation in the official competition when actor/writer/director and Cannes stalwart Nanni Moretti returned to the festival with his latest comedy/drama examination of the Italian middle-class ‘Three Floors’. A story set in a well-to-do Roman apartment building, where the lives of its residents intersect as they share in the struggles of being good families and neighbours while overcoming ingrained fears and resentments.
Moretti was on hand flanked by his producer Domenico Procacci and stars Elena Lietti, Riccardo Scamarcio, Alba Rohrwacher, Margherita Buy and Adriano Giannini, ‘Three Floors’ is out on the 23rd of September in Italy, with no UK date yet.
Three Floors trailer (courtesy of TheUpcoming)
Drive My Car (Doraibu Mai Kâ)
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The second of Sunday’s competition entries was a Japanese affair which saw writer/director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi make a second visit to the Riviera, this time with his stars Tôko Miura, Reika Kirishima and Sonia Yuan for a premiere of their road drama ‘Drive My Car’. The story of a grieving stage actor/director who takes to the road on a trip to another city for a job a couple of years after his wife mysteriously disappeared, only to develop a bond with a woman hired to drive him around, dredging up an unresolved past and the mystery of his wife. ‘Drive My Car’ is out on the 20th of August in Japan, with no UK date yet.
Drive My Car press conference (courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
The Innocents
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Sunday also brought some Nordic flavour to the Un Certain Regard competition and some welcome subtle supernatural thriller elements to this year’s festival when Norwegian filmmaker Eskil Vogt graced the red carpet for the second time in the week but in directorial mode this time to premier ‘The Innocents’. A dark tale of children’s playtime taking a dangerous turn when a group of young kids begin to experiment with their hidden mysterious powers during a Nordic summer . . . with serious consequences for all. Vogt was joined at he Riviera by his stars Ellen Dorrit Petersen, Alva Brynsmo Ramstad, Rakel Lenora Flottum and Mina Yasmin Bremseth Asheim plus producer Maria Ekerhovd, ‘The Innocents’ is out on the 27th of August in Norway, with no UK date yet.
The Innocents photocall (courtesy of Festival de Cannes)
Week 2 (Next Page)–>
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