The Cannes palm grove prognosis is an exercise in perplexity. There have been some beautiful films, just as many possible Palme d’Or winners: “Fatherland” by Polish Pawlikowski, on Thomas Mann’s return from exile to Germany after World War II; “Minotaure” by Russian Andrei Zvyagintsev, an adaptation of Claude Chabrol’s “The Unfaithful Wife” (1969). “Fjord” by Romanian Cristian Mungiu, about a Romanian evangelical family in Norway; “Paper Tiger” by American James Gray, on the Russian mafia in New York; “Suddenly” by Japanese Ryusuke Hamaguchi, with Virginie Efira as the director of a nursing home in France.
While international critics are more tepid, the French press would like to see Frenchman Emmanuel Marre win a Palme d’Or for “Our Salvation,” a historical drama about the Collaboration with Swann Arlaud as a Vichy official. Marre is also highly cited for the Best Actor award, as is Gilles Lellouche in “Moulin” by Hungarian László Nemes, but Spanish actor Javier Bardem is a favorite for his role as a filmmaker in “The Beloved” by fellow countryman Rodrigo Sorogoyen.
For the Best Actress award, three French actresses are most cited: Virginie Efira, who appears in two films (“Suddenly” and “Parallel Stories”), as well as Léa Seydoux (“The Unknown” and “Gentle Monster”), and Elsa Drucker (“A Woman’s Life”). Russian Iris Lebedeva (“The Minotaur”) also has a chance. Adèle Exarchopoulos (“Garance”) also deserves recognition.
Context:
This text discusses potential winners at the Cannes Film Festival.
Fact Check:
The Cannes Film Festival is one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world.
