No one can see everything shown in competition at the Cannes Film Festival — there are 21 films in competition this year — and I certainly don’t. So there’s no need to pass judgment on all titles that used to recognized with the awards on Saturday, I must say I am impressed with the fact that all five titles in English qualify — Wes Anderson‘S asteroid city, Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire‘S Black flies, Karim Ainouz‘S fire brand, Todd Haynes‘S May december And Ken Loach‘S old oak tree – was completely ignored by the judges.
Needless to say, that’s not the job of the Cannes jury – which this year includes the likes of Paul Dano, Brie Larson and recent Palme d’Or winners Ruben Ostlund (in 2017 Square and in 2022 Sad triangle) and in 2021 Julia Ducournau (titane) — to try to herald the Oscar race. But for me, it is remarkable that after several consecutive years there is considerable overlap between the selections of the Cannes jury and the selections of the Academy – most notably when Parasites won the top prize of both – it doesn’t look like there won’t be many, if any, this year.
Of course, the Academy mainly focuses on work in English, even as it becomes a more international institution. And there’s plenty of Academy-friendly work in the five English-language titles omitted, especially the stellar performance of Natalie Portman And Julianne Moore as an actress and the woman she will play in turn May decemberwhich Netflix bought for $11 million at the film festival and plans to promote the prize; Alicia Vikander And Jude Law plays Katherine Parr and King Henry VIII respectively in fire brand, still seeking distribution in the United States; And Tye Sheridan And Sean Penn respectively, a young man preparing to enter medical school and a veteran medical worker in Black flieswhich Open Road will distribute in the US.
Two other English-language films showing at the festival, though not in competition, are sure to get big hits at the Oscars: Martin Scorsese‘S Flower Moon Killerfrom Paramount and Apple TV+, featuring features respectively Leonardo Di Caprio, Lily Gladstone, Robert De Niro And Jesse Plemons (Scorsese and his supporters chose not to show it in the competition); and the latest from Pixar, elementthe festival ended.
What are those movies? used to be honored?
The person with the greatest Oscar potential could be the Grand Prix winner Caring areaBritish filmmaker Jonathan GlazerThe German portrait of the life of the Höss family just outside the Auschwitz gate, a true study of the mediocrity of evil. It’s sure to get an Oscar hit from A24, which also handled Glazer’s most recent previous film, subcutaneous, a decade ago; As was the case with that project, I have no doubt that it will be widely received by critics — but I’m not entirely confident it will be the Academy’s cup of tea. Even the way it started, with a few minutes on a blank screen, impressed many who I consider presumptuous and may have disheartened Academy members who tried to watch it at home. on the Academy members-only streaming service.
I find it highly unlikely that Germany would choose to submit, as a participant in the best international film Oscar race, a film by a non-German filmmaker and/or a film that reflects this in particular. bad way about the behavior of the German people during World War II. So the strongest Oscar prospect for the film could be its female lead, Sandra Hüllerwho played Mrs. Höss in Caring area — and also starred in the Palme d’Or award-winning film, Justine Triet‘S Anatomy of a Autumn, in which she plays a writer trying to prove her innocence in her husband’s death. (If Hüller’s film didn’t win the festival’s two top prizes, it would appear that she would have been recognized with best actress, but the Cannes jury often likes to spread the word around her title. them more.)
Anatomy of a Autumn will be distributed in the United States by Neon, which also handles distribution in the United States of the last French film to win the Palme d’Or, titane, was eventually submitted by France as an Oscar entry, but was not shortlisted. This season, France will have to decide whether to submit or not Anatomy of a Autumn or the movie Tran Anh Hung recognized with the award for best director, Pot-au-Feufavorite french star Juliette Binoche And Benoit Magimel and may have more mainstream appeal. Pot-au-Feu Still looking for US distribution.
The jury’s award went to Falling leavesthe latest film of the Finnish master Aki Kaurismäkiwho previously represented his country in the 1996 best international film Oscar race Drifting Clouds, was disqualified; the years 2002 The man with no past, has been nominated; the years 2006 Lights in the sunset, until it is withdrawn; and 2011 Le Havre, not nominated. MUBI will distribute it in the US
The best screenplay is awarded Yuji Sakamoto for japanese movies Monsterdirected by Hirokazu Kore-edawho previously represented his country with 2004 Nobody know, not nominated; and 2018 theft, has been nominated. It is still seeking US distribution.
Merve Dizdar won the best actress award for her role in a Turkish film Introduction to dry grassdirected by Nuri Bilge Ceylonwho previously represented his country with 2003 Far, not nominated; 2008 three monkeys, was shortlisted; 2011 Once upon a time in Anatolia, not nominated; year 2014 Hibernation, not nominated; and 2018 Wild pear tree, not nominated. It is still seeking US distribution.
And then there’s the amazing Japanese actor Kouji Yakushowho was awarded the best actor award for perfect daya Japanese-German co-production directed by the legendary German filmmaker Wim Wenders. Neon is said to be close to reaching an agreement for the rights to distribute the film in the United States. Wenders previously represented Germany with 1977 American friend, not nominated; 1987’s Wings of desire, not nominated; and 2011 pina, was shortlisted. But it remains to be seen whether Japan or Germany will co-produce this season.
