It is from every point of view the day of Francis Ford Coppola which returns to compete for the Palme d’Or 25 years after the (half) triumph of “Apocalypse Now”.
The other film in the competition flies the English flag and gives the festival back attention to female creativity (directed by Andrea Arnold) which has often been contested since the time of MeToo . But the greatest expectation is for the apocalyptic world of FURIOUS.
Here are all the films of the day:
– MEGALOPOLIS by Francis Ford Coppola with Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel (IN COMPETITION). Paid out of his own pocket by the director (120 million dollars), designed for maximum technological prominence (from sound to vision in Imax), the most ambitious work of the director of the “Godfather” has its roots in ancient Rome, espousing the thesis for which Catiline was a revolutionary and Cicero a lawyer at the service of conservatives. It transports the story to a futuristic and decadent New York in which Cesare Catilina (visionary architect) would like to rebuild a “new Rome” while mayor Cicero opposes it to support the status quo. Between the two is Cicero’s daughter, in love with Catiline and his ideas.
– BIRD by Andrea Arnold with Barry Keoghan, Franz Rogowski, Nykiya Adams. (IN COMPETITION). Like a bird that has yet to learn to fly, 12-year-old Bailey is still waiting to learn everything about her life. She lives with her father and a brother in the desolate outskirts of the county of Kent. Left to herself and in search of emotions, Bailey dives into the great sea of discoveries…
– FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA by George Miller with Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke (OUT OF COMPETITION). Revenge is the feeling that drives the protagonist of this epic saga that plunges the world into a time before the days of “MadMax”. She is furious and has been kidnapped by a gang of ferocious motorcyclists led by the cruel Dementus. Her Green Land is now far away and in the bush she must learn to defend herself from everything and everyone. Until the hour of revenge strikes.
– THE DAMNED by Roberto Minervini with Jeremiah Knupp, René W. Solomon, Cuyler Ballenger (OUT OF COMPETITION). In the winter of 1862, in the midst of the civil war, a team of the Northern army is sent west, into unexplored lands. However, when the meaning of the mission is distorted by reality, two young recruits question themselves about the meaning of killing and being killed.
Minervini as Terrence Malick.
– ON BECOMING IN GUINEA FOWL by Rungano Nyoni with Elizabeth Chisela, Susan Chardy, Henry BJ Phiri (OUT OF COMPETITION). Africa knocks on the door of Un Certain Regard with this tragicomedy between Guinea and Zambia. Shula belongs to the middle class of the Zambian bourgeoisie but when, in the middle of the night, he comes across his uncle’s coffin, he is forced to participate in the funeral rites involving the family. And here Shula experiences first-hand all the hypocrisies of his world.
– TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN by Soi Cheang with Louis Koo, Sammo Hung, Richie Jen and Raymond Lam (OUT OF COMPETITION). Hong Kong thriller that renews one of the most successful traditions of that cinematography. In the English colony an enclave survives in which the laws are only those of force and conflict between gangs. Illegal immigrant Chan Lok-kwun finds refuge there under the protection of Chief Cyclone. But he will have to help defend the citadel from the Triad gangs led by Mr. Big.
– ELIZABETH TAYLOR: THE LOST TAPES by Nanette Burstein (CANNES CLASSICS). An extract of 70 hours of private confession on her life and career, enriched with unpublished photos, archive materials and fragments of memorable hits, the film takes the viewer into the diva’s private world. It is her voice that makes us discover new emotions and an unsuspected point of view on Liz Taylor.
– ALGO OLD, ALGO NUEVO, ALGO PRESTADO by Hernan Rosselli with Maribel Felpeto, Alejandra Cánepa, Hugo Felpeto. (QUINZAINE DES CINEASTES). In the slums of Buenos Aires, the Felpeto family runs clandestine games. Upon the father’s death, the daughter and the widow take over the family business and it is the youngest of the Felpetos who recovers memories and family films to tell her story to the director who makes her the protagonist of a story suspended between memory and invention.
– TO SON IMAGE by Thierry de Peretti with Clara-Maria Laredo, Marc Antonu Mozziconacci, Louis Starace. (QUINZAINE DES CINEASTES). It is the eyes of the photographer Antonia that tell us, through her shots, the history of Corsica from the 80s to today. A story of clashes, passions and even loves that have their crossroads in Antonia
– LOCUST by Keff with Liu Wei Chen, Rimong Ihwar, Devin Pan. (SEMAINE DE LA CRITIQUE). The other side of Taiwan is revealed by Zhong-han’s double life who serves in a restaurant during the day and gangs up with a local gang at night. However, when a shady businessman takes over the restaurant, Zhong must make a choice between his companions and job security.
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