THEThe beauty of the festivals? The only exact law is … that there is no exact law. Films that have all the credentials to enter the Palmarès prove to be flop, films not taken into great consideration unleash coup de coeur. And the Festival of Cannes 2025 It was no exception. Now that it has ended And the metaphorical spotlight on the Croisette also went out (the real ones had already gone out in the morning for a blackout), it is time to balance. Apart from the discounted confirmations (A Simple accident by the Iranian Jafar PanahiGolden palm not by chance, it is the masterpiece that was expected, Jeune Mères of the Dardenne brothers, best screenplay awardit is their best work in recent years), here are the surprises. In the good. And in evil.
“Sentimental Value” and “O Secret agent”: applause
“A Simple Accident” by Jafar Panahi.
That Joachim Trier It has been good for some time (Renate Reisve had won the prize for the best interpretation right here in 2021 thanks to his The worst person in the world) But this time he raised the shot, involving the Hollywood Elle Fanning in the history of a cult director but bad father. And with Sentimental Value He hit the center, winning the Grand Prix and – with 19 minutes of standing ovation – the most applauded film record.
As proof of the excellent state of health of Brazilian cinema after the success of I’m still here here by Walter Salles (Oscar to the best foreign film), here’s Or secreted agent by Kleber Mendonça Filhoconsecrated best director: this also set during the dictatorship years in 1977. Here Marcelo (Wagner MouraGolden palm immediately at sexiness, in addition to the prize won for best actor) He runs away from São Paulo to Recife, in an attempt to escape from his mysterious past …
“Dossier 137”: Long live Léa Drucker
Optimal Dossier 137 by Dominik Moll, already loved for The night of 12. But The best thing is the protagonist, Léa Drucker. Unfortunately the prize has escaped it (she went to Nadia Melliti for Le Petit Dernier by Hasfia Herzibut remains a moral winner. Equally fantastic Jodie Foster: that it is very good ça va sans saybut the one not obvious is that it works perfectly even in a comedy role like that of the psychoanalyst detective of Privée streetssuccessful mix of genres directed by Rebecca Zlotowski.
“Eddington” and “The Phoenician plot”, which waste
They had the cast more to scream, but what unites them – now that the Cannes Film Festival is over – is the feeling of flop. For The Phoenician plot (grotesque portrait of a cynical magnate), Wes Anderson has bother, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, Benedict Cumberbatch, Willem Dafoe, Bill Murray and the promising daughter of Kate Winslet, Mia Threateleton: how much wasted skill! For Eddington Ari Aster (the 38 year old American Pupillo of the cinephiles after the horror Midsommar – The Damn Village And Beau is afraid ) involved Joaquin PhoenixPedro Pascal, Emma Stone, Austin Butler.
‘Sentimental Value ”(Photo Kasper Tuxen).
Ducournau and “Alpha”: bankrupt mission
Even double disappointment for Julia Ducournau and her Alphawho dragged the always wonderful Tahar Rahim (lost for the occasion of twenty kilos) and Golshifteh Farahani in the flop. The French director did not repeat neither the exploit of Titanhis film with Vincent Lindon Palma d’Oro (among many perplexities, must be said) in Cannes 2021 nor the exploit of The SubstanceCoralie Fargeat’s film that last year relaunched Demi Moore.
Our tops
Léa Drucker in “Dossier 137” (© Fanny de Gouville // Modds).
“Relegate” in the Quinzaine des cinéastes section One of the most powerful films of the Cannes Film Festival 2025: Yes by Nadav Lapid. But all that is Israeli today is scary, although the director could not have achieved more critical portrait of his country’s society. And ruthless, but in comedy sauce (a Parasite softened by the colors of the Mediterranean), is Moyenne class by Antony Cordier, Summer clash between the family of rich very snobbish Parisians and the guardians of their villa in Provence (great Laure Calamy!). Finally, special mention to Vicky Krieps and his Love Me Tender (directed by Anna Cazenave Cambet) on the clash without exclusion of blows between an ex -couple for the assignment of the child. Other than Kramer against Kramer…
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