The Cannes Film Festival isn’t just about the movies that will walk red carpet, it’s also about the huge marketplace where movies recently wrapped or about to shoot come to raise money and strike deals. That means showing off a little tease of what’s coming, and that’s the case with a couple of first looks from some promising projects.
First up, the first snap of Saoirse Ronan in John Crowley‘s “Brooklyn” has arrived. Based on the acclaimed book by Colm Toibin and adapted by Nick Hornby, the 1950s-set drama follows Eilis (Ronan), who moves from small-town Ireland to Brooklyn, NY to find work and establish a future. She falls in love with Tony, but a family tragedy forces her back to Ireland where she’s courted by Jim, with Eilis left to choose between the two men and two different futures in two countries. Domhnall Gleeson and Emory Cohen co-star and we’re hoping this turns out as good as it sounds on paper.
Meanwhile, Nicole Kidman has yet another movie coming with “Strangerland.” Co-starring Joseph Fiennes, the story follows a couple whose relationship is pushed to its breaking point after their two teenage children disappear into the Outback during a dust storm. Kim Farrant (the documentary “Naked on the Inside”) makes her feature directorial debut with this one.
Both pictures are open for U.S. distribution deals and we’d wager before Cannes is out, they’ll lock it down. [Screen Daily]