Monday, May 4, 2015

Field Guide to Cannes 2015: Main Comp Films A-M

It's that time of year again. The Cannes Film Festival runs from May13th through the 24th. Here's part one of my annual look at the films in competition.




Carol

USA, UK. Directed by Todd Haynes


Set in 1950s New York, a department-store clerk who dreams of a better life falls for an older, married woman.

Stars: Rooney Mara, Cate Blanchett, Kyle Chandler



Chronic

USA. Directed by Michel Franco


A home care nurse works with terminally ill patients.

Stars: Tim Roth, Bitsie Tulloch, Sarah Sutherland



Dheepan 

France. Directed by Jacques Audiard




Dheepan is the story of a Sri Lankan Tamil warrior who flees to France and ends up working as a caretaker outside Paris.

Stars: Vincent Rottiers, Marc Zinga 



La loi du marché

France. Directed by Stéphane Brizé


At 51, after 20 months of unemployment, Thierry starts a new job that puts him in a moral dilemma.

Stars: Vincent Lindon



Louder Than Bombs

Norway, France, Denmark, USA. Directed by Joachim Trier


The family of a deceased war photographer discovers a secret about her past when a gallery prepares for a retrospective of her work.

Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Rachel Brosnahan, Gabriel Byrne




Macbeth

UK, USA, France. Directed by Justin Kurzel



Macbeth, a duke of Scotland, receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders his king and takes the throne for himself.

Stars: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, David Thewlis





Marguerite et Julien

France. Directed by Valérie Donzelli


The story revolves around Julien and Marguerite de Ravalet, the son and daughter of the Lord of Tourlaville, who have had great affection for one another since they were children. But as they grow up, their tender love turns into an all-consuming passion.

Stars: Anaïs Demoustier, Jérémie Elkaïm, Aurélia Petit



Mia madre

Italy, France. Directed by Nanni Moretti



Margherita, a woman in the middle of an existential crisis, has to deal with the inevitable and still unacceptable loss of her mother.

Stars: Margherita Buy, John Turturro, Giulia Lazzarini 



Mon roi

France. Directed by Maïwenn



A woman is admitted to a rehabilitation center after a serious skiing accident. Dependent on medical staff and painkillers, she reflects on a tumultuous love affair from the past.

Stars: Vincent Cassel, Louis Garrel, Emmanuelle Bercot



Mountains May Depart

China, Japan. Directed by Zhangke Jia


The film has three parts, set in the 1990s, the present and in Australia in the year 2025.

Stars: Tao Zhao



Field Guide to Cannes 2015: Main Comp Films A-M

It's that time of year again. The Cannes Film Festival runs from May13th through the 24th. Here's part one of my annual look at the films in competition.




Carol

USA, UK. Directed by Todd Haynes


Set in 1950s New York, a department-store clerk who dreams of a better life falls for an older, married woman.

Stars: Rooney Mara, Cate Blanchett, Kyle Chandler



Chronic

USA. Directed by Michel Franco


A home care nurse works with terminally ill patients.

Stars: Tim Roth, Bitsie Tulloch, Sarah Sutherland



Dheepan 

France. Directed by Jacques Audiard




Dheepan is the story of a Sri Lankan Tamil warrior who flees to France and ends up working as a caretaker outside Paris.

Stars: Vincent Rottiers, Marc Zinga 



La loi du marché

France. Directed by Stéphane Brizé


At 51, after 20 months of unemployment, Thierry starts a new job that puts him in a moral dilemma.

Stars: Vincent Lindon



Louder Than Bombs

Norway, France, Denmark, USA. Directed by Joachim Trier


The family of a deceased war photographer discovers a secret about her past when a gallery prepares for a retrospective of her work.

Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Rachel Brosnahan, Gabriel Byrne




Macbeth

UK, USA, France. Directed by Justin Kurzel



Macbeth, a duke of Scotland, receives a prophecy from a trio of witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, Macbeth murders his king and takes the throne for himself.

Stars: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, David Thewlis





Marguerite et Julien

France. Directed by Valérie Donzelli


The story revolves around Julien and Marguerite de Ravalet, the son and daughter of the Lord of Tourlaville, who have had great affection for one another since they were children. But as they grow up, their tender love turns into an all-consuming passion.

Stars: Anaïs Demoustier, Jérémie Elkaïm, Aurélia Petit



Mia madre

Italy, France. Directed by Nanni Moretti



Margherita, a woman in the middle of an existential crisis, has to deal with the inevitable and still unacceptable loss of her mother.

Stars: Margherita Buy, John Turturro, Giulia Lazzarini 



Mon roi

France. Directed by Maïwenn



A woman is admitted to a rehabilitation center after a serious skiing accident. Dependent on medical staff and painkillers, she reflects on a tumultuous love affair from the past.

Stars: Vincent Cassel, Louis Garrel, Emmanuelle Bercot



Mountains May Depart

China, Japan. Directed by Zhangke Jia


The film has three parts, set in the 1990s, the present and in Australia in the year 2025.

Stars: Tao Zhao



Roma (2018) ✭✭✭✭✭

Alfonso Cuarón’s directorial career has dealt with everything from updated Dickens ( Great Expectations ) to twisted coming of age ( Y Tu Ma...