Being a film director and making movies with great artistic merit does not mean you stop having a sense of humor inside you. Just ask the good Park Chan-wook, director of some of the best films of the last thirty years and this year’s jury president at Cannes, who had to reluctantly award the Palme d’Or for Best Film. Was it because there was none worthy? No. Because it is an award he has never won. A very humorous director. With irony, the Korean director stated to Variety that […]
Being a film director and making movies with great artistic merit does not mean that you stop having a sense of humor within you. Just ask the good Park Chan-wook, director of some of the best films of the last thirty years and this year’s jury president at Cannes, who had to reluctantly award the Palme d’Or for Best Film. Is it because there was none worthy? No. Because it is an award he has never won.
A very funny director
With sarcasm, the Korean director has stated to Variety that “to be completely honest, I didn’t want to award the Palme d’Or to any film because it’s an award that has never been given to me,” adding with a lot of humor “but I had no other choice.“ For those who are not familiar with Park Chan-wook’s work, the joke is that his latest film is called 어쩔수가없다. Or in our language, No other option.
Jokes aside, the jury awarded the Palme d’Or to a film. Specifically, to Fjord, by Christian Mingiu, a film about a Norwegian-Romanian family that goes to live in a supposedly progressive small town and the problems they face there.
Although Park Chan-wook has never won the Palme d’Or, that doesn’t mean his films are any less than excellent. He is particularly known for his cult film Oldboy, but his recent films, firmly rooted in realistic drama, such as The Handmaiden, Decision to Leave, or No Way Out have earned him new popularity in critical circles. Therefore, perhaps in the future he will receive that Palme d’Or he now jokes about.
Probably there is no more famous and renowned European director than Jean-Luc Godard. Master of cinema, undisputed intellectual, questionable and controversial person, he was one of the protagonists of the nouvelle vague and without him, cinema would probably never have been the same. This is undeniable and we will not be the ones to deny it. Richard Linklater will not deny it either, as he has dedicated an entire film to him that promises to be one of the films with which Netflix wants to compete in this year’s awards season. Its name? Nouvelle Vague, of course. Nouvelle Vague takes place in 1959 and follows […]
Probably there is no more famous and renowned European director than Jean-Luc Godard. Master of cinema, undisputed intellectual, questionable and controversial person, he was one of the protagonists of the nouvelle vague and without him, cinema would probably never have been the same. This is undeniable and we will not be the ones to deny it. Richard Linklater will not deny it either, as he has dedicated an entire film that promises to be one of the films with which Netflix wants to compete in this year’s awards season. What is its name? Nouvelle Vague, of course.
Nouvelle Vague takes place in 1959 and follows the filming of Breathless, one of the first films directed by Godard and one of the first films of the Nouvelle Vague. Shot in black and white, in a 4:3 format and featuring Guillaume Marbeck and Zoey Deutch in the leading roles, the film aims to recreate the aesthetic of the original film as faithfully as possible.
A movie that has been tremendously acclaimed
He must have achieved it because, in fact, the film has had a triumphant run through all kinds of festivals. In April of this year, it was selected to compete for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. At its world premiere on May 17 during the festival, it received an 11-minute standing ovation.
Given the resounding success of this premiere, Netflix decided to acquire the rights to the film. Paying 4 million dollars for the distribution of the film in the US, it is the second highest amount ever paid for the distribution rights of a foreign film. The first was also Netflix and it was also in Cannes for the controversial and highly questionable Emilia Pérez. This led to the film being released on October 8 in French theaters and on October 31 in US theaters, for a limited time, in order to be eligible for awards that require a theatrical release, such as the Oscars.
On the other hand, the film has been a hit among critics. With a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 76 on Metacritic, the film is captivating the audience. At least, part of it. The most constant complaints are that although it is a heartfelt tribute to the cinema of the nouvelle vague, it lacks both the inventiveness and the wit of the films from that era, being nothing more than a pale reflection of it. Opinions are divided here: for some, that is enough to applaud, while for others, it is a reason to demand more.
Given the premiere of the movie on November 14 on Netflix, the decision of which side is right couldn’t be easier. We just have to watch the movie for ourselves and decide if, in this case, Linklater has succeeded or if perhaps Godard would have appreciated a bit more of his tribute.
Ezra Miller, known for his role in ‘The Flash’, is planning his return to the screen with the film ‘Die My Love’, directed by Lynne Ramsay. This marks two years since his last performance and three years facing a series of legal issues, which included assault allegations and more. Miller surprised the industry by attending the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in support of Ramsay, whom he considers one of his closest friends and one of the greatest filmmakers today. Two years away from the spotlight The director Ramsay revealed in May that Miller will take on […]
Ezra Miller, known for his role in ‘The Flash’, is planning his return to the screen with the film ‘Die My Love’, directed by Lynne Ramsay. This marks two years since his last performance and three years facing a series of legal issues, which included assault allegations and more. Miller surprised the industry by attending the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in support of Ramsay, whom he considers one of his closest friends and one of the greatest filmmakers today.
Two years away from the spotlight
Director Ramsay revealed in May that Miller will take on the lead role in this new film, described as a vampire movie. In statements to the Italian media Lo Speciale Giornale, Miller mentioned, I’m working with her again. That will probably be the first thing I do, it’s a movie we’re writing together. This focus on collaborative work seems to be a refuge for the actor, who has been writing in solitude as part of his healing process.
Despite his legal and personal issues that culminated in 2022, Miller acknowledges the growth he has achieved as a result of his crisis. In a statement to Entertainment Weekly, the actor expressed being truly grateful for the lessons that came with that abyss. During his turbulent period, he was the subject of previous controversies, including an incident where a video showed him assaulting a woman in Iceland in 2020.
Miller has addressed his mental health issues and the impact on his life, commenting on the lack of support he faced in the film industry. When you work in this industry, you encounter people who don’t care about you at all, he stated, reflecting a sense of regret for his past actions. As he prepares for this new chapter, his relationship with cinema remains “tentative,” although he is hopeful for the future.
The movie If I Could Hibernate is set to premiere on May 30 in theaters, marking a milestone in the cinematic representation of Mongolia as it is the country’s first production to compete in one of the official sections of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. This human drama, which tells the story of Ulzii, a 14-year-old teenager, addresses themes of education, hope, and resilience in a context of extreme poverty and family abandonment. A human drama that promises to break our hearts Ulzii lives in one of the poorest neighborhoods of Ulan Bator, where, after […]
The movie If I Could Hibernate is set to premiere on May 30 in theaters, marking a milestone in the cinematic representation of Mongolia as it is the first production from the country to compete in one of the official sections of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. This human drama, which tells the story of Ulzii, a 14-year-old teenager, addresses themes of education, hope, and resilience in a context of extreme poverty and family abandonment.
A human drama that promises to break our hearts
Ulzii lives in one of the poorest neighborhoods of Ulan Bator, where, after the absence of his mother, an illiterate woman who suffers from depression and alcohol problems, he must take on the responsibility of caring for his two younger siblings. In the middle of winter, the young man faces not only the extreme cold but also the difficulties of balancing his studies with occasional jobs to meet his family’s basic needs.
Director Zoljargal Purevdash drew on her own childhood to create this moving story, which has resonated at more than a dozen international festivals, such as those in Karlovy Vary, Göteborg, Hong Kong, and São Paulo. Film critics have praised the movie, highlighting its cinematography and the ability to blend Ulzii’s life’s hardships with glimpses of hope. Rubén Romero from Cinemanía emphasizes how, despite the calamities, there is a brightness in the imagery that envelops the characters.
If I Could Hibernate represents a unique opportunity for film buffs and lovers of auteur cinema to peek into a little-explored culture in contemporary cinematography. With its focus on Mongolian reality, the film promises to be a powerfully human testimony and a window into a different global perspective.
Oliver Laxe has been awarded the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival 2025 for his film Sirat, which will premiere in theaters on June 6, 2025. The story centers on a father searching for his missing daughter in the Moroccan desert, and Laxe has described the work as a mix of documentary, adventure, road movie, drama, and sensory cinema. The fourth Spaniard to receive this award The film stands out for its soundtrack, created by Kangding Ray, which blends electronic and techno sounds, contributing to the unique atmosphere of Sirat. In this […]
Oliver Laxe has been awarded the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival 2025 for his film Sirat, which will premiere in theaters on June 6, 2025. The story focuses on a father searching for his missing daughter in the Moroccan desert, and Laxe has described the work as a mix of documentary, adventure, road movie, drama, and sensory cinema.
The fourth Spanish to receive this award
The film stands out for its soundtrack, created by Kangding Ray, which fuses electronic and techno sounds, contributing to the unique atmosphere of Sirat. In this work, Laxe collaborates for the first time with a professional actor, Sergi López, who shares the stage with a cast of non-professional actors, generating a blend of naturalness and realism in the narrative.
The Spanish director, who has evolved significantly since his beginnings, believes that Sirat is his most political and radical film, reflecting a twilight flavor and a deep connection with the experiences of life and death. In his own words, there is a desire for everything to change, for us to move on to something else.
Laxe has maintained a style in his filmography that reaches its peak in this production. Sirat dialogues with his previous work, Mimosas, maintaining his distinctive hallmark of powerful images and expressive moments. The production process was supported by institutions such as Movistar and Televisión Española, highlighting the growing importance of the Spanish film industry.
With this recognition in Cannes, Laxe demonstrates his ability to attract international attention and position his cinema on the global map, while reflecting the complexities of contemporary society. Sirat promises to be both a raw and spiritual cinematic experience, resonating with an audience eager for stories that transcend the traditional boundaries of cinema.
The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival has concluded with the awarding of its prizes, highlighting the victory of A Simple Accident, directed by Jafar Panahi, who won the Palme d’Or. This film, shot without the authorization of the Iranian authorities, marks the filmmaker’s return after 15 years of imprisonment and torture due to his criticism of the Iranian regime. The plot follows a man who, after suffering an accident, decides to take justice into his own hands. Carla Simón leaves empty-handed In his emotional acceptance speech, Panahi made a call to […]
The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival has concluded with the awarding of its prizes, highlighting the victory of A Simple Accident, directed by Jafar Panahi, who won the Palme d’Or. This film, shot without the authorization of the Iranian authorities, marks the filmmaker’s return after 15 years of imprisonment and torture due to his criticism of the Iranian regime. The plot follows a man who, after suffering an accident, decides to take justice into his own hands.
Carla Simón leaves empty-handed
In his emotional acceptance speech, Panahi called for freedom for his country and his fellow filmmakers, stating: Film is a society. No one has the right to tell us what we have to do and what we don’t. His victory is a reflection not only of his tenacity in the face of repression but also of the relevance of cinema as a means of expression and resistance.
The Grand Prize was awarded to Joachim Triet for Sentimental Value, a film that explores the reunion of two sisters with their father, a renowned actor in the past, which opens the door to a family conflict in the world of cinema. Additionally, Nadia Melliti and Wagner Moura were recognized for their performances in La petite dernière and Agente secreto, respectively.
In the category of best screenplay, the Dardenne brothers won for Jeunes Mères, while the Jury Prize ex aequo went to Sirat by Óliver Laxe and Sound of Falling by Mascha Schilinski. Although Romería by Carla Simón was a notable competitor, it did not manage to win any awards.
This year, the festival has reaffirmed its commitment to autonomous and brave cinema, presenting works that not only entertain but also invite reflection on artistic freedom and the challenges filmmakers face in repressive contexts.
The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival has witnessed the moving screening of Joachim Trier’s new film, Sentimental Value, which received a 20-minute standing ovation; because yes, it is possible to applaud for that long. This recognition makes it the most applauded film of the festival in several years, positioning Trier alongside other prominent directors in the history of the event. Critics have praised the work, describing it as a hymn to the brotherhood between art and life, which has resonated with the audience present at the Grand Théâtre Lumière. Hand pain […]
The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival has witnessed the moving screening of Joachim Trier’s new film, Sentimental Value, which received a 20-minute standing ovation; because yes, it is possible to applaud for that long. This recognition makes it the most applauded film of the festival in several years, positioning Trier alongside other prominent directors in the history of the event. Critics have praised the work, describing it as a hymn to the brotherhood between art and life, which has resonated with the audience present at the Grand Théâtre Lumière.
Hand Pain
However, the applause meter at Cannes has a record that still stands: Pan’s Labyrinth directed by Guillermo del Toro received 22 minutes of uninterrupted applause in 2006, remaining the most acclaimed film in the history of the festival. This masterpiece combines a dark tale with a historical backdrop, reflecting the struggle of a girl in the post-Franco war through a magical and brutal universe.
Since the premiere of Pan’s Labyrinth, the ovations have continued to be an indicator of the popular reception and critical relevance of the films. Other productions, such as Fahrenheit 9/11 and Mud, have also received prolonged applause, but none have been able to match the phenomenon achieved by Del Toro. The figures are eloquent, as while Sentimental Value has made its own history, it still lags behind in terms of recognition.
As applause becomes a thermometer of popular demand in Cannes, it is evident that Pan’s Labyrinth remains an unattainable reference, demonstrating how a fantastic fable can resonate deeply with the audience, even without its large budgets or the status of Hollywood stars. In this context, the story of Del Toro’s film stands as a lasting legacy, marking a milestone in Spanish and international cinematography.
The 2025 Cannes Film Festival has witnessed a polarized reception towards some of the films presented, with reactions ranging from long ovations to loud boos. While some works, like Alpha by Julia Ducournau, have garnered nearly 12 minutes of applause, others have faced harsh criticism. A clear example of this is Personal Shopper, directed by Olivier Assayas and starring Kristen Stewart, which received boos during its presentation in 2016, reflecting a historical resistance from Cannes towards genre cinema. A film once vilified, now adored, Personal Shopper tells the story of Maureen, a […]
The Cannes Film Festival 2025 has witnessed a polarized reception towards some of the films presented, with reactions ranging from long ovations to loud boos. While some works, such as Alpha by Julia Ducournau, have garnered nearly 12 minutes of applause, others have faced harsh criticism. A clear example of this is Personal Shopper, directed by Olivier Assayas and starring Kristen Stewart, which received boos during its presentation in 2016, reflecting a historical resistance from Cannes towards genre cinema.
A movie that was once vilified, now adored
Personal Shopper tells the story of Maureen, a young assistant to a model in Paris, who can communicate with the dead while dealing with the recent loss of her brother. This premise, which combines elements of drama and supernatural genre, was not well received at the festival, causing divisions among critics and the audience. Some, like G. Calvo from Variety, have defended Assayas’ vision, arguing that his original approach is a brave attempt to explore less conventional territories in cinema.
Despite the controversy at its premiere, Personal Shopper has achieved a favorable average on Metacritic, with a score of 77/100, suggesting that, outside of Cannes, it has found a significant group of admirers. This film, which is available on Prime Video, could be considered an interesting option for those looking for different and challenging stories.
The disparity in audience reactions at Cannes has also been notable. Historically, the festival has shown a resistance to films of certain genres, which may explain the negative reactions towards Personal Shopper and other films with similar themes. With Cannes 2025 still ongoing, the dynamics of love and hate continue to define the festival experience.
During the 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, which is striving to correct its image after criticism for its complicity in the #MeToo movement, Kevin Spacey, a two-time Oscar winner, was honored with the Excellence in Film and Television Award at the Better World Fund Gala. This event, held on the Carlton beach, has sparked diverse opinions, as the decision to award Spacey opens a debate about how the entertainment industry treats figures who have been accused of inappropriate conduct. A return […]
During the 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, which is striving to correct its image after criticism for its complicity in the #MeToo movement, Kevin Spacey, a two-time Oscar winner, was honored with the Excellence in Film and Television Award at the Better World Fund Gala. This event, held on the Carlton beach, has sparked diverse opinions, as the decision to award Spacey opens a debate about how the entertainment industry treats figures who have been accused of inappropriate conduct.
A controversial return
Kevin Spacey has faced serious allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct that led to his exclusion from the film industry for several years. His award at Cannes has been interpreted by some as a chance for redemption, although it has also raised questions about the ethics of recognizing individuals who have been at the center of controversies related to harassment.
The festival, which seeks to distance itself from accusations of complicity with the #MeToo movement, had faced significant pressure to demonstrate its commitment to a safer and more respectful environment in the film industry. However, the choice of Spacey as an honoree can also be seen as a setback in this effort, as it reinforces the debate about cancel culture and how institutions respond to serious allegations.
In this context, the festival organizers and Spacey’s critics will face the ongoing discussion about the possibility of redemption and forgiveness in the entertainment industry, as well as how the creative community addresses past behaviors. The award to Spacey will surely remain a topic of conversation in the coming days, as the possible effects on his career and the public perception of the festival’s decisions are analyzed.
The Cannes Film Festival 2025, which takes place from May 13 to 24, highlights the growing presence of Spanish cinema with significant works such as Romería by Carla Simón and Sirat by Oliver Laxe. Simón, following her previous success at the Berlinale, presents an intimate story about family relationships, while Laxe addresses a father’s search for his daughter in a contemporary and aggressive context. Both directors emphasize the strength of the new wave of Spanish filmmakers, marking a step forward in national representation at the festival. A lineup of films to consider This […]
The Cannes Film Festival 2025, which takes place from May 13 to 24, highlights the growing presence of Spanish cinema with significant works such as Romería by Carla Simón and Sirat by Oliver Laxe. Simón, following her previous success at the Berlinale, presents an intimate story about family relationships, while Laxe addresses a father’s search for his daughter in a contemporary and aggressive context. Both directors emphasize the strength of the new wave of Spanish filmmakers, marking a step forward in national representation at the festival.
A list of movies to consider
This year, Cannes will also see the return of renowned American filmmakers such as Wes Anderson and Kelly Reichardt, who bring a variety of artistic perspectives. Anderson will present The Phoenician Scheme, while Reichardt will showcase The Mastermind, focused on an art heist in an intriguing sociopolitical context. The participation of independent cinema remains vital in this festival, reinforcing the cultural bridge between the United States and Europe.
Although the festival has improved its representation of female directors, with six women in the Official Competition, the need to advance towards real gender parity in the film industry continues to manifest. Directors like Julia Ducournau, winner of the Palme d’Or, will also showcase works that explore themes of gender and contemporaneity, demonstrating that auteur cinema is in constant evolution.
