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CANNES FILM FESTIVAL: The 2024 Cannes Film Festival dazzled with extraordinary cinematic talent. This year, filmmakers from across the globe presented their finest works. Consequently, the festival featured a wide variety of genres and styles. Notably, the top 10 movies stood out for their innovation and storytelling. Therefore, our list highlights the best of Cannes 2024.

Among these top films, several trends emerged. For example, many directors explored deep, character-driven narratives. Meanwhile, others pushed visual boundaries with stunning cinematography. Moreover, themes of social justice and personal triumph were prevalent. As a result, these films captivated both critics and audiences. Ultimately, they exemplify the excellence celebrated at Cannes.

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What is the ‘Cannes Film Festival’?

The Cannes Film Festival is one of the most important occasions for the film industry. Held annually in Cannes, France, it celebrates outstanding cinema achievements. Consequently, filmmakers from around the world gather to showcase their work. Notably, it features premieres of highly anticipated films. Therefore, it is a hub for both new talent and established artists.

Throughout its history, Cannes has been a platform for groundbreaking cinema. For example, it introduced audiences to iconic films like “Pulp Fiction” and “La Dolce Vita.” Meanwhile, it awards the coveted Palme d’Or to the best film. Moreover, the festival promotes international film culture. As a result, it remains a significant event in the cinematic calendar. As Quentin Tarantino once said, “Cannes is the ultimate film festival, the Mecca of cinema.”

What are the Top 10 Best Movies From the Cannes Film Festival?

The top 10 best movies from the Cannes Film Festival showcase diverse genres and styles. Firstly, these films captivate audiences with their compelling narratives. Secondly, they feature innovative cinematography and direction. Additionally, many highlight important social and political issues. Moreover, the selected movies include both emerging talent and renowned directors. Consequently, these films represent the pinnacle of cinematic achievement at Cannes.

10. Megalopolis: Shocking Movie of Cannes Film Festival

Francis Ford Coppola, a writer, and director, deeply loved Megalopolis and came up with the film’s plot in 1977. Although he had won five Oscars in the past, including three for his work on The Godfather, reviews for Megalopolis have shockingly split opinions. The movie explores the made-up city of New Rome and features Adam Driver as the idealistic architect Cesar Catilina. Megalopolis delves into topics of socialism in an idealistic environment and political corruption. However, critics blame the movie’s overly ambitious aspects for the conflicting reviews.

Cast members of Megalopolis discussed Coppola’s direction style and his sometimes-disabling dedication to the project. Many crew members recalled him hiding away ahead of big shootings without a plan, only to “whip up something that didn’t make sense” at the end (via The Guardian). Critics often found the story jumbled and unclear, reflecting this pattern. Despite this, the committee is still considering Megalopolis for the 2024 Palme d’Or.

9. The Substance: Sparked Wild Controversy

My favorite film from the festival has sparked wild controversy: Coralie Fargeat’s gory, exaggerated, mile-a-minute body horror film, Revenge. Demi Moore stars as a fitness show host who, at fifty, faces judgment from her annoying boss, played by Dennis Quaid, deeming her past her prime. Then, she receives an enigmatic offer to try “The Substance,” a surgery promising to unleash a more attractive, younger version of herself.

When this happens, her spine cracks apart, revealing a dazzling Margaret Qualley, eager to fulfill her wildest dreams. (Really, yes.) Things go wrong in a stunning way, culminating in a hilariously badass ending. You have to see it on the biggest screen possible, surrounded by others laughing, stuttering, gasping, and shaking their heads in shock with you.

8. Grand Tour: Anachronistic Love Daydream at Cannes Film Festival

In Miguel Gomes’s bizarre and anachronistic love daydream, an Englishman residing in Colonial Burma in 1917 travels throughout Asia to avoid marriage. The reason behind his eagerness to escape his prospective bride remains unclear, but she accompanies him on the great tour, suggesting her inadvertent puzzlement as well.

The film seamlessly integrates contemporary videos of iPhones and scooters with sequences set in homes and clubs from the colonial era, embodying the strange and frequently challenging charm of Gomes. Grand Tour serves as a stunning litmus test; one can either fall in love with it or struggle to connect.

7. Seed Of The Sacred Fig: Captivating Film of Cannes

Director Mohammad Rasoulof left Iran after being condemned to prison for covertly making this daring new film. The Seed of the Sacred Fig, set in contemporary Tehran, narrates the tale of political and personal oppression that befalls a family after a pre-women’s liberation demonstration. At the city’s Revolutionary Court, the father, serving as an investigating judge, is tasked with punishing the demonstrators.

However, disagreements arise with his wife and two daughters at home, as they perceive things differently. In the final act, a talkative and captivating Iranian drama transforms into something wild and captivating. This film truly deserves the label “important” in a society where the term is often used carelessly.

6. Veit And Nam: Gay’s Story from the Cannes Film Festival

The director, Truong Minh Quy, has already been outlawed in the country of origin for this slow-burning queer drama. It centers on two young gay miners in early 2000s Vietnam who contemplate the direction their lives might take. Despite its just-over-two-hour runtime, living in their world becomes surreal as everything unfolds. It’s simultaneously peaceful, odd, and subtly oppressive.

Debuting among the works of other up-and-coming directors in the Un Certain Regard section of the festival, it’s unquestionably one of the best movies to open at Cannes in 2024. It’s a beautiful exploration of how we bind ourselves to the people who matter most in order to navigate an uncertain future.

5. Anora: Delightful Movie

The endearing screwball comedy directed by Sean Baker begins, fittingly, with a sweeping, exuberant picture of exotic dancers grinding to the rhythm of Take That’s “Greatest Day.” A lively Ani (a revelatory Mikey Madison) is one of them; she plays entertainer to the wacky 21-year-old Ivan (Mark Eidelstein), who also happens to be the son of a Russian oligarch.

They had a crazy romance that ended when they decided to spend a crazy week together, a la Pretty Woman. Before they know it, though, Ivan’s enraged parents are on their way to pick up their misbehaving son and they’re exchanging vows in Vegas. There’s a ton of laughter, a delightful prolonged set piece at the end, and a very touching finish.

4. All We Imagine As Light: Solid Reality in the Cannes Film Festival

Payal Kapadia‘s All We Imagine as Light, the first Indian film to compete at the festival in more than 50 years, follows the ebbs and flows of two Mumbai-based friends’ romantic relationships. Prabha’s friend Anu starts a covert affair against her family’s wishes with a man of her choosing as Prabha struggles to make sense of the disappearance of her husband, whom she married seven years ago and hasn’t seen much of since. With a gentle, subtle beauty that melds enchantment and reality, the film solidifies Payal Kapadia’s status as a generational auteur. “A work of art. “—Greenwood Douglas

3. Bird: A Hallucinatory World

Andrea Arnold, the three-time recipient of the Jury Prize, is back at Cannes with Bird. Nykiya Adams plays 12-year-old Bailey in the movie, and Saltburn star Barry Keoghan plays her father Bug. Bailey encounters the mysterious figure known only as Bird (Franz Rogowski) in an intriguing fusion of magical realism with genuine gritty humor. The strange but lovely coming-of-age tale has drawn praise from critics for exploring the reality of working-class life in the UK and for its emotional depth.

Amazingly, Bird has been nominated for both the Queer Palm and the Palme d’Or at Cannes 2024. Bailey is thrown into a nearly hallucinatory world by Bird in a compelling tale about societal systems and financial hardships, where she strives to fit in and serves as a ray of goodness and optimism. being surrounded by drug dealers and deadly gangs. Throughout it all, Bird and Bailey develop an odd bond that helps to keep the youngster in check.

2. The Girl With The Needle: Exquisitely Melancholic from The Cannes Film Festival

Magnus von Horn is the director of the criminal drama film The Girl With the Needle. It is loosely based on the real-life account of a serial killer from Denmark. The horrifying tale centers on Trine Dyrholm’s portrayal of a fictional Dagmar Overbye, who operates a front-of-business illegal “adoption” agency. After that, Dagmar recruits Vic Carmen Sonne’s character Karoline, a young pregnant lady who is terrified and spine-chillingly aware that her new boss is preying on her.

Acclaimed for its exceptional black-and-white cinematography, The Girl With the Needle heightens the suspenseful mood of the picture. There are moments when the atmosphere of dread and terror feels more like something out of a horror film, with hints of Handmaid’s Tale noir. The Girl With the Needle, which is set against the backdrop of war-torn Denmark, is expected to win praise from critics everywhere for its exquisitely melancholic and lyrical yet unsettling content.

1. Kinds of Kindness: Captivating Images

Many well-known Hollywood figures, including Academy Award winner Emma Stone and Breaking Bad graduate Jesse Plemons, appear in various roles in the absurdist dark comedy Kinds of Kindness. The three separate stories in the film’s anthological framework are “The Death of R.M.F.,” “R.M.F. is Flying,” and “R.M.F. Eats a Sandwich,” all of which have a tenuous connection to one another. Themes of humanity and control are explored in each section while the main narrative concerning supernatural forces and manipulation gradually develops.

Particularly noteworthy are the captivating images in Kinds of Kindness, which enhance the film’s evocative tone and captivate the audience with their performances. Particular recognition is being given to Stone and Plemons for their adaptability over the three tales and their consistently impactful character growth in each volume. Yorgos Lanthimos, a filmmaker, has a history of showcasing his unconventional work at Cannes. But compared to one of his greatest works, The Favorite, Kinds of Kindness may be his most avant-garde composition. One critic noted, “This film reminds us that kindness can change the world.”

Conclusion:

The top 10 best movies from the Cannes Film Festival this year showcase an impressive variety of genres and styles. Firstly, each film captivates audiences with unique narratives and innovative cinematography. Secondly, the selections highlight both emerging talent and established directors. Additionally, themes of social justice, personal triumph, and human connection are prevalent. Consequently, these films resonate deeply with viewers.

Moreover, the festival’s curated selection sets a high standard for cinematic excellence. For example, the films provoke thought, inspire change, and entertain simultaneously. Furthermore, they reflect the current zeitgeist and push creative boundaries. As a result, they leave a lasting impact on the audience. What does this diversity in storytelling say about our world today? Explore these films and discover the stories that moved Cannes.

FAQues

Q1: Which films will be shown at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024?

A: The Movies That Will Be Shown at Cannes in 2024 Furiosa: A Tale of Mad Max. Warner Bros. is credited. With the release of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, the fifth installment of the franchise, industry great George Miller makes a triumphant return to the visceral wasteland desert he envisioned 45 years ago.

Q2: Will you get a sneak peek at the Oscar contenders at Cannes in 2024?

A: Getty Images/Andreas Rentz The 22 films competing in the juried competition at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival may give viewers an early look at this year’s Oscar hopefuls as well as a glimpse into the opinions of global industry insiders regarding their colleagues’ work.

Q3: How significant is an imprimatur from the Cannes Film Festival?

A: While a Cannes Film Festival seal of approval is always helpful along the way, positive word-of-mouth can surpass any festival buzz that has already developed. The top 15 films that we saw this year on the Croisette are compiled by IndieWire below. This story was contributed to by Christian Zilko, Wilson Chapman, Christian Blauvelt, and Sophie Monks Kaufman.

Q4: Why did this year’s Cannes Film Festival perform so poorly?

A: LOIC VENANCE/Images via Getty Without a doubt, the Cannes Film Festival, which concluded this past weekend, was one of the poorest this year. The Hollywood strikes of the previous year, which caused numerous productions to be delayed, had a significant role in this.