Cannes 2022: Under The Radar Films in Competition
by KM, Movie Lightbox
The 75th edition of the Cannes Film Festival kicks off today on the French Riviera in Southern France, a 12-day showcase of the best in world cinema. 21 films are vying for the coveted Palme d’Or, the festival’s top prize. While everyone’s attention is set on big name directors and titles in the lineup, the new Cronenberg and Park Chan-wook, returning Palme d’Or winners like the Dardennes, Mungiu, Ostlund and Kore-eda, there are films in the main competition worth taking a closer look. These are under the radar films which could steal the festival audience’s attention, build buzz or even nab the coveted festival prize, the Palme d’Or :
EO
Polish filmmaker Jerzy Skolimowski’s last appearance in Competition was way back in 1989 with Torrents of Spring and this year he is returning with a film which focuses solely on a grey donkey named EO. Skolimowski had been previously recognized by Venice Film Festival with its Golden Lion Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2016 and he also won the top prize in Berlin Film Festival in 1967 for his comedy film The Departure.
Synopsis: The world is a mysterious place when seen through the eyes of an animal. EO, a grey donkey with melancholic eyes, meets good and bad people on his life’s path, experiences joy and pain, endures the wheel of fortune randomly turn his luck into disaster and his despair into unexpected bliss. But not even for a moment does he lose his innocence.
NOSTALGIA
Mario Martone initially worked in the avant-garde theatre and founded the theatre company False Movement. His 1998 drama film, Teatro Di Guerra screened in the Un Certain Regard section of the festival. Nostalgia, the story of Felice Lasco who returns to his hometown to look for his sick and dying mother will be Martone’s second shot for the Palme d’Or.
Synopsis: After 40 years of abscence, Felice returns to his hometown: Naples. He rediscovers the places, the rules of the city and a past that haunts him.
HOLY SPIDER
Director Ali Abbasi had a promising debut at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival with his fantasy film, Border. The film went on to win the top prize at the Un Certain Regard section of the festival and was submitted by Sweden for Best International Film category at the 2019 Oscars. Abbasi will be in Competition this year with his provocative, pitch black thriller, Holy Spider.
Synopsis: A journalist descends into the dark underbelly of the Iranian holy city of Mashhad as she investigates the serial killings of sex workers by the so called "Spider Killer", who believes he is cleansing the streets of sinners.
LEILA’S BROTHERS
This will be Saeed Roustaee’s third feature film and the first film to be presented in Competition at Cannes. Just 6.5, his second film, screened at the Orrizonti section of Venice Film Festival in 2019.
Synopsis: At 40 years old, Leila has spent her whole life taking care of her parents and her four brothers. The family argues constantly and is crushed by debts, in a country caught in the grip of international economic sanctions. As her brothers are trying to make ends meet, Leila formulates a plan: to start a family business that would save them for poverty.
While they are in desperate need of financial support, Leila finds out that their father Esmail has secretly been hiding a family heirloom. He had been saving it as an offering to become the new Patriarch of the clan, the highest honor in the Persian tradition.
This uncovering will bring chaos to the already fragile family dynamics. As the father's health deteriorates, the actions of each family member will gradually lead the family one step closer to implosion.
BOY FROM HEAVEN
Tarik Saleh started his career as a graffiti artist. His 2017 thriller film, The Nile Hilton Incident was awarded the World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic at Sundance Film Festival. Boy from Heaven was selected to be in Competition and will be his first film at Cannes Film Festival.
Synopsis: Adam, the son of a fisherman, is offered the ultimate privilege to study at the Al-Azhar University in Cairo. On the first day back after the summer holidays, the grand imam collapses and dies in front of his students. This marks the start of a ruthless battle for influence to take his place.
The 75th Cannes Film Festival runs May 17 - 28.
Images courtesy of Cannes Film Festival