THEL Cannes Film Festival 2022 is in the home straight, but there is still some fireworks to enjoy. Such as Elvisthe biopic signed Baz Luhrmann (out of competition) with Austin Butler as Presley and Olivia DeJonge as Priscilla, while the role of the infamous manager – Colonel Tom Parker – is entrusted to Tom Hanks. A portrait that has already had the approval of the real Priscilla and is destined to steal the show from the two interesting films in competition, Stars at Noon of the French Claire Denis e Leila’s Brother by the young Iranian Saeed RoustaeAnd.
Baz Luhrmann on the set of “Elvis” with Austin Butler and Olivia DeJonge.
Elvis is alive!
45 years after his death, Elvis is more alive than ever, and not only in the urban legends who wanted him to escape the stress of showbusiness. Luhrmann – a regular at the Festival (in 1992 his debut was held here, Strictly Ballroomand was the only director to inaugurate the kermesse twice, in 2001 with Moulin Rouge! and in 2013 with the The Great Gatsby) – recounts twenty years of The King’s life and career focusing on the complex relationship with the manager. But beyond the musical scenes – which are promised to be spectacular in perfect “Baz style” – the film has the ambition to show in filigree a crucial period for American society.
The granddaughter’s debut
But Cannes 2022 also marks another notch for the Presley family: Kiley Reough (born of Lisa Marie’s first marriage), presented – in the section Un certain regard – War Ponyhis directorial debut (together with Gina Gemmel). An engagé film that follows the stories of two Native American children on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. And that frees her from the fear (despite many interpretations behind her) of being only “the niece of”.
Margaret Qualley and Joe Alwyn in “Stars at Noon”.
Daughter of art
There is a daughter of art also in competition: 27-year-old Margaret Qualley, born from the bond between Andy MacDowell and photomodel Paul Qualley. In Stars at Noon by Claire Denis (based on Denis Johnson’s novel) plays a young journalist American involved in a mission to Nicaragua. It is not the first time that Denis (a Cannes veteran, already came in 1988 with Chocolat) uses a Hollywood star: in 2018 for High Life he had cast Robert Pattinson.
Iran on stage
After the excellent reception of the thriller Holy Spider by Ali Abbasi, another Iranian film arrives in the race: Leila’s Brother by Saeed Roustaee. Another story that could find great support in the director Asghar Farhādi (who, moreover, worked in his The client with the protagonist, Taraneh Alidoosti). At 40, Leila, who has spent all her ancestry taking care of her parents and siblings, decides to start a family business to escape poverty and debt. However, causing an explosive effect …
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