Fresh Faces Take on Veteran Directors

The highlight of the festival, and representing Japan,Hirokazu Kore-edadirector'sOur Little Sisterwas selected for the competitive section. The jury for this highly anticipated section was headed by American directing duoJoel & Ethan Coen(Jury President), alongside directors Guillermo del Toro,Xavier Dolan, and actorsJake Gyllenhaal, Sienna Miller, Sophie Marceau, and Rossy de Palma, totaling nine members.

This year's competition featured 19 films, with many works from acclaimed directors who have won awards in previous competitions being shifted to the "Un Certain Regard" section, the second-tier official section. The lineup comprised a fresh cohort of first-time competitors, facing off against seasoned directors including Palme d'Or winners Gus Van Sant and Nanni Moretti, as well as Jacques Audiard, Matteo Garrone, and Paolo Sorrentino.

The surreal and bizarre filmThe Lobster, by rising Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos, who first gained attention with "The Dogtooth" (2009) and made his competition debut this year, winning the Jury Prize, stars Colin Farrell (who gained considerable weight for his role!),Ben Whishaw,Léa Seydoux, and Rachel Weisz. The English-language film's wildly imaginative and surreal narrative was utterly captivating.


Mexican director Michel Franco's screenplay forChronicearned him the Screenwriting Award. Tim Roth, who starred as a nurse caring for terminally ill patients, had previously worked with Franco on "After the Dark" (2012), where Franco served as jury president for the "Un Certain Regard" prize. The collaboration between a new talent and a renowned actor who believes in them is truly wonderful.


The Marketwas a fitting performance forVincent Lindon's Best Actor win. The Best Actress award was shared byCarol'sRooney MaraandMon Roi's Emmanuelle Bercot (also the director of the opening film "Standing Tall," a talented filmmaker). Cate Blanchett's performance as Rooney Mara's co-star in "Carol" was also outstanding.Cate Blanchett



Master director Hou Hsiao-hsien won the Best Director award for his martial arts filmThe Assassin, whose stunning visual beauty was, in my opinion, contrasted by a lack of depth in character portrayal. Satoshi Tsumabuki's scenes and dialogue were minimal, leaving me wondering. However, according to a press huddle for Japanese reporters on-site, Tsumabuki actually had a significant amount of dialogue and screen time. If that's the case, this might have been a festival version, with a different cut planned for the Japanese release.

The most impactful film I encountered throughout the festival was the Holocaust dramaSon of Saulby emerging Hungarian director László Nemes, which received the Grand Prix. The film's masterful use of close-ups and intentional camerawork creates a powerful effect. It's hard to believe this is his debut feature, given its remarkable level of completion. Personally, discovering this film was the greatest reward of this year's festival.


The Palme d'Or winner,Dheepan, garnered mixed reactions regarding its happy ending. While it might not be considered directorJacques Audiard's finest work, the way the theme was approached and the overwhelming directorial skill were truly impressive.


Incidentally, we the press watch the awards ceremony from a separate venue's screen, so we can cheer or boo freely as awards are announced. This year, however, the awards ceremony was remarkably more theatrical than usual. American actor John C. Reilly, who appeared in two competition films, sang and danced, and there was a soulful piano performance... It truly felt like a testament to Cannes' evolution.