The month of May is widely known for its sweltering heat and the daunting prospect of stepping outside; however, the much-awaited Cannes Film Festival is the silver lining, held every year in the latter part of the month. While Nancy Tyagi's looks have become the talk of the town this year, we also cannot contain our excitement about the films that will soon grace our screens with some good old cinematic magic. Here are our top picks from this year that we're most excited about, celebrating the art and influence of great cinema from around the world.
Cannes 2024 Is Here! 8 Screenings That Should Be On Every Movie Buffs Radar
Sister Midnight
Sister Midnight is a dark comedy starring Radhika Apte—need we say more? This film captures the story of a couple where the husband is a spineless drunkard, while the wife gradually succumbs to her feral desires, nearly losing her sanity. The sharp screenplay mirrors Radhika Apte's internal rage and emotions, with many disjointed extended sequences. This is a quintessential Karan Kandhari directorial piece and a must-watch for anyone who enjoys a twisted sense of humour.
Sunflowers Were The First Ones To Know
Sunflowers Were The First Ones To Know is the first film to win the 'La Cinef prize this year, and one of the eight Indian films being screened at Cannes 2024. It is a short story based on Kannada folklore, where an elderly woman steals something that results in the village being utterly deprived of daylight. Calling it interesting is an understatement. It was made by FTII students who apparently skipped their formal lessons to produce it.
Universal Language
Matthew Rankin's Universal Language is an oddball Canadian comedy that captures the best and most absurd essence of Iranian cinema. A rather satirical take on the genuine tensions prevalent in Canadian cities such as Montreal and Winnipeg, the film features Farsi as the universal language. It centres around two sisters endeavouring to extract money from the ice and a tour guide, accompanied by a teacher who revisits Winnipeg. The film comes across as warm and familiar while also being refreshingly unique.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Furiosa is a prequel to 'Mad Max: Fury Road' that captures George Miller's cinematic brilliance in its fury. Its eye-popping visuals are essentially segmented into five chapters, laying the foundation for its successors. Though Furiosa, portrayed by Anna Taylor Joy, pursues her own agenda of revenge, the film delivers gut-wrenching stunts and visually stunning sequences that unfold with gleaming finesse. It's a must-see for aficionados of the action genre.
Manjummel Boys
Yet another Indian movie, Manjummel Boys, is based on a true incident from 2006 and serves as a beautiful ode to friendship. The film follows a group of 10 friends on a trip to Kodaikanal, where they decide to explore the restricted area of Guna Caves. One friend falls into a seemingly endless hole, leaving the remaining nine to grapple with how and if they can rescue their companion. With its skilful use of flashbacks, background music, and numerous references to the works of Kamal Hassan and Ilaiyaraaja, this film is a crackpot of all things brilliant.
Emilia Perez
Jacques Audilard's Emilia Perez is a musical crime comedy, which is supremely interesting, dramatic, and real. Rita, an underappreciated and overqualified lawyer, joins a cartel leader undergoing a medical transition. It breaks away from all stereotypical cliches with stellar acting performances. While the musicals are wonderful, the way different characters integrate within the larger overarching storyline makes this movie fabulous.
The Balconettes
From the writer of 'Portrait of a Woman on Fire', The Balconettes is a dark comedy that we cannot really wait to watch. Three women stuck in a heatwave find themselves trapped in an all-enclosing affair. The movie taps into themes of sexual violence and misogyny with a gripping screenplay that makes one hold their seat tight.
Kinds Of Kindness
Following the exquisite 'Poor Things', Yorgos Lanthimos's Kinds Of Kindness is an anthology with three interconnected stories. It has many oddball sensibilities and comical quips, which are rather bizarre to watch but effectively work. The audience has to figure out the notion of truth in the movie and decide whether to resonate with the characters. All in all, it should be on everyone's watchlist simply because of the classic Lanthimo's charisma.
