Cannes 2021: The Standouts (Week 2)
Days 7 - 11 of the 74th Cannes Film Festival
by KM, Movie Lightbox
A strong slate of films prevailed during the second week of the 74th edition of Cannes Film Festival. From provocative titles to slow cinema, top international filmmakers presented a wide and interesting spectrum of subjects that will be part of this year’s conversation in cinema. The Palme d’Or , the festival’s top prize will be presented at the Closing Ceremony on July 17.
Here’s the list of films which are clear standouts of the festival on its second week, based on reviews and initial buzz and reactions:
Titane by Julia Ducournau
Synopsis
Following a series of unexplained crimes, a father is reunited with the son who has been missing for 10 years. Titane : A metal highly resistant to heat and corrosion, with high tensile strength alloys.
A Hero by Asghar Farhadi
Synopsis
Rahim is in prison because of a debt he was unable to repay. During a two-day leave, he tries to convince his creditor to withdraw his complaint against the payment of part of the sum. But things don't go as planned.
Red Rocket by Sean Baker
Synopsis
The audacious new film from writer-director Sean Baker (The Florida Project, Tangerine), starring Simon Rex in a magnetic, live-wire performance, Red Rocket is a darkly funny, raw, and humane portrait of a uniquely American hustler and a hometown that barely tolerates him.
The French Dispatch by Wes Anderson
Synopsis
A love letter to journalists set in an outpost of an American newspaper in a fictional 20th-century French city that brings to life a collection of stories published in "The French Dispatch Magazine".
Memoria by Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Synopsis
Ever since being startled by a loud ‘bang’ at daybreak, Jessica is unable to sleep. In Bogotá to visit her sister, she befriends Agnès, an archaeologist studying human remains discovered within a tunnel under construction. Jessica travels to see Agnès at the excavation site. In a small town nearby, she encounters a fish scaler, Hernán. They share memories by the river. As the day comes to a close, Jessica is awakened to a sense of clarity.
Belle by Mamoru Hosoda
Synopsis
Suzu is a 17-year-old high school student living in a rural village with her father. For years, she has only been a shadow of herself. One day, she enters “U,” a virtual world of 5 billion members on the internet. There, she is not Suzu anymore but Belle, a world-famous singer. She soon meets with a mysterious creature. Together, they embark on a journey of adventures, challenges and love, in their quest of becoming who they truly are.
Images courtesy of Festival de Cannes