The Phoenician Scheme
In true Wes Anderson tradition, the filmmaker assembles an epic ensemble cast for his latest, described as an espionage black comedy. Benicio del Toro plays Zsa-zsa Korda, a business tycoon who makes his daughter, who is a nun (played by Mia Threapleton), his sole heir, resulting in betrayal, (gun) battle and backstabbing. The cast of the film — that Anderson conceived with Roman Coppola (yes the ‘Godfather’s son’) — comprising Michael Cera, Riz Ahmed, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Jeffrey Wright, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Rupert Friend and Hope Davis is enough too make us sign up.Cannes screening date: May 18
The History of Sound
Paul Mescal is one of the most promising new Hollywood talents now, and the actor teams up with Josh O’ Connor in this sweeping historical drama that explores the journey of two men — and their subsequent romance — who travel together in the summer of 1919 to record the folk songs of their countrymen in rural New England. Based on the short story of the same name by Ben Shattuck, this Oliver Hermanus directorial is said to winningly delve into themes of identity, forbidden love and the daring nature of dreams. The film is competing for the Palme d’Or, the biggest award at Cannes.Cannes screening date: May 21
Eddington
‘During the Covid-19 pandemic, a standoff between a small-town sheriff and mayor sparks a powder keg as neighbour is pitted against neighbour in Eddington, New Mexico.’ That is the official synopsis of Eddington, which sees Hereditary and Midsommar man Ari Aster shift gears from horror to a contemporary Western. Set to premiere in the Main Competition section, we can’t wait to watch the A-list cast — Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Luke Grimes, Austin Butler and Emma Stone — take over the Cannes croisette.Cannes screening date: May 16
Alpha
Four years after winning the prestigious Palme d’Or, Julia Ducournau returns with her next. Set to premiere at Cannes, Alpha tells the story of an 11-year-old girl in a fictional 1980s city, inspired by New York, who struggles with rejection and bullying from her classmates after a rumour spreads that she is infected with an unknown disease. Starring Tahar Rahim, Golshifteh Farahani and Emma Mackey, the French language film explores themes of loss, mortality and social isolation.Cannes screening date: May 19
Highest to Lowest
Actor Denzel Washington and director Spike Lee reunite after 19 years for this neo-noir thriller, a reinterpretation (and not a remake) of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 Japanese film High and Low. Set to premiere Out of Competition at Cannes, Highest to Lowest has Washington playing a music mogul who is caught in a life-or-death situation when faced with a ransom demand. The teaser of the film, which also stars Ilfenesh Hadera, Jeffrey Wright, Ice Spice and A$AP Rocky, is a cracker.Cannes screening date: May 19
Die, My Love
Cannes veteran Lynne Ramsay adapts Ariana Harwicz’s 2017 novel about a new mother (played by Jennifer Lawrence) living in rural America who develops postpartum depression and enters psychosis even as her marriage crumbles. Robert Pattinson plays the husband, with the cast also comprising LaKeith Stanfield, Nick Nolte and Sissy Spacek. Premiering at Cannes, Die, My Love is vying for the Palme d’Or.Cannes screening date: May 17
Eleanor The Great
Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut has 95-year-old June Squibb in the lead. The celebrated thespian plays a 90-year-old Floridian woman who strikes up an unlikely friendship with a 19-year-old student in New York. Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jessica Hecht and Erin Kellyman make up the main cast of the film that explores themes of dealing with loss and grief, the enduring human spirit and the resilience to forge new connections in one’s twilight years. The film will screen in the Un Certain Regard category.Cannes screening date: May 20
Urchin
After starring in last year’s much-talked-about Babygirl with Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson makes his feature-length directorial debut with Urchin. The film has Mike (played by Frank Dillane), who is trapped in a cycle of self-destruction as he attempts to turn his life around. As per its description, the film is “raw and absurd,” and a “story about the strange patterns that keep pulling us back”. Urchin will premiere at the Un Certain Regard section.Cannes screening date: May 17
The Chronology of Water
Yet another actor-turned-director with a ticket to Cannes is Kristen Stewart. The Cannes Film Festival description for the Twilight star’s feature directorial debut reads: ‘Brought up in an environment torn apart by violence and alcohol, Lidia Yuknavitch seemed destined for self-destruction and failure until words offered her unexpected freedom in the form of literature. The Chronology of Water, adapted from Yuknavitch’s autobiographical bestseller, follows Lidia’s journey to find her own voice in an exploration of how trauma can be transformed into art through repossessing our own bloody histories, particularly those uniquely experienced by the bodies of women and girls.’ Imogen Poots stars as Yuknavitch in this Un Certain Regard entry.Cannes screening date: May 16
Sentimental Value
Joachim Trier directs Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgard, Elle Fanning and Cory Michael Smith in this drama which explores family dynamics and the power of art through the story of two sisters who attempt a reconciliation with their estranged father after their mother’s death. Nominated for the Palme d’Or, Sentimental Value will screen in the Main Competition section.Cannes screening date: May 21