“Triangle of Sadness”
With a two and a half hour run-time and playing in competition at Cannes, “Triangle of Sadness” is Ruben Ostlund’s third film in a satirical trilogy taking aim at the bourgeoisie. The black comedy, starring Woody Harrelson, Charlbi Dean, and Harris Dickinson, sees a cruise packed with the rich and famous sink, leaving them all stranded on a desert island.
“Aftersun”
Produced by Barry Jenkins (“Moonlight”) among others, which always makes us pay attention as he has impeccable taste, “Aftersun” is the story of Sophie, a girl reflecting on a vacation she took with her father when she was 11 years old. Told by weaving memories both real and imagined as Sophie tries to reconcile the father she knew and the man that she didn’t, the young girl is played by Frankie Corio while Normal People” star Paul Mescal plays her father. Scottish filmmaker Charlotte Wells, known for some eye-opening shorts, directs.
“Brother and Sister”
Imagine hating your sibling so much that you avoid seeing or speaking to them for over 20 years. Would there be anything that could bring you together? For Alice, unfortunately, the death of her parents will force her to reunite with her brother, Louis. Marion Cotillard will star as Alice, an actress, and Melvil Poupaud is Louis, the estranged brother who is a teacher and poet. “Brother and Sister” is directed by Arnaud Desplechin.
“War Pony”
Based on real events, “War Pony” follows three interlocking stories of three Lakota men living on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The directorial debut of “Zola” actress Riley Keough and Gina Gammell, the film is a story of belonging and how belonging evolves throughout generations–a child belonging to his family, a man belonging to America, and an elder belonging to his tribe. The cast includes Robert Stover, Jojo Bapteise Whiting, and LaDainian Crazy Thunder.
“Moonage Daydream”
Acclaimed documentarian Brett Morgen is behind the first David Bowie doc sanctioned by the musician’s estate. Sharing a title with the third track on Bowie’s fifth album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, “Moonage Daydream” features rarely seen concert and performance footage of Bowie. The film, which has been a rigorous five-year production for Morgen, “reveals the icon through his own voice” and will feature 48 of his songs.
“Rodeo”
A thrilling look at a world audiences rarely see, “Rodeo” follows Julia, a young woman with an untamable passion for motorcycles. One day, she meets a group of bikers proficient at performing acrobatic stunts on their bikes and is able to infiltrate the group before an accident jeopardizes her place in the gang. The film is directed by Lola Quivoron and stars Antonia Buresi and Julie Ledru.
“The Silent Twins”
Based on the true story and subsequent book of the same name by investigative journalist Marjorie Wallace, “The Silent Twins” brings a fresh perspective on the astounding lives of June and Jennifer Gibson. The twins rejected communication with anyone but each other and created a fascinating world to escape their reality. June and Jennifer will be played (in their later years) by Letitia Wright and Tamara Lawrance. Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Smoczyńska, known for her festival favorite films, “The Lure” and “Fugue” (the former of which was put on Criterion), directs.
“Tori and Lokita”
Belgian filmmakers and Two-time Palme d’Or winners Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne return to the festival for their ninth time. This time, the Dardenne brothers bring “Tori and Lokita,” a film about a young boy and girl who have traveled from Africa and have to pit their invincible friendship against the cruel conditions of their exile. The film stars Charlotte De Bruyne, Tijmen Govaerts, and Alban Ukaj alongside Mdundu Joely as Lokita and Pablo Schils as Tori.
“God’s Creatures”
Everyone loved Anna Rose Holmer’s 2015 debut film “The Fits,” which made a big splash at the Sundance Film Festival that year. This year, she returns with a co-director in Saela Davis, who actually has been there the whole time and co-wrote and co-edited “The Fits.” Co-starring Emily Watson and Paul Mescal, co-produced by A24 and featuring the always unnerving music of Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans, there’s already tons of reasons to look out for this one. The story, about a mother torn between protecting her beloved son and her own sense of right and wrong, is just extra intriguing on top of it all.
“The Five Devils”
If French screenwriter and director Léa Mysius’ name sounds familiar, it should. Some of Mysius’ impressive recent credits include collaborations with Arnaud Desplechin on “Ismael’s Ghosts” (2017) and “Oh Mercy!” (2019), Jacques Audiard on “Paris, 13th District” (2021) and Claire Denis on 2022 Cannes title, “The Stars at Noon.” That’s quite the list and her second feature as a director stars Adèle Exarchopoulos in a fantastical drama about a women who can smell and reproduce any scent of her choosing.