2025 will be my fifth consecutive visit to the Cannes Film Festival. What could be a better opportunity to review the previous four editions and list the 10 best Cannes films from the last four years? On second thought, there might be many such moments, but I will go ahead anyway.
10. Tiger Stripes 2023
Whenever I see Still Moving involved in a project, I get interested. Amanda Nell Eu’s first feature, Tiger Stripes, didn’t disappoint and was one of the highlights of the otherwise lacklustre 2023 edition. I explained why in my review, and the director told me which Japanese classic film inspired her during our talk. Let’s keep moving to…
9. Feathers 2021
Truth be told, we are not moving that much. Feathers by Omar el Zehairy was presented in Semaine de la Critique, just like Tiger Stripes, and once again, Still Moving was involved in the production. It was Charles Tesson’s last year as head of the section, and before the screening, he said that they had saved the best for the last screening and gave an introduction full of feather-related puns. Nom de plume was not one of them, though. The story of a family father turned into a chicken during a magical act at a children’s party is told with an assurance of style referencing several masters.
8. Pacifiction 2022
I would lie if I said I am a major Albert Serra fan. However, Pacifiction gripped me from the start and never left its hold on me. That might sound strange, considering the film’s aesthetic, which has an indolent tone perfectly in tune with its characters. Even a Serra sceptic should watch this one.
7. The Story of My Wife 2021
The success with On Body and Soul (Golden Bear and shortlisted for some American Award) made it easier for Ildikó Enyedi to finally realise her adaptation of her favourite novel, The Story of My Wife. However, the reception at Cannes in 2021 was far from enthusiastic, at least not by the Anglo-Saxon critics. The director made substantial changes to the novel’s form. Something we discussed when I interviewed her. I reviewed the film from Cannes 2021 as well.
6. Only The River Flows 2023
Shujun Wei didn’t visit Cannes for the first time with Only the River Flows. Still, it was the strongest film that he ever presented there. Where will you find my justifications for that statement? Could it be in my review? Did we discuss the film when I interviewed the director? The answer will Flow you.
5. Petrov’s Flu 2021
Kirill Serebrennikov has presented his films in the Cannes competition several times, even when he was under house arrest. His style has never been more arresting than in Petrov’s Flu, which often reaches dizzying heights, especially during the first two-thirds. Vladislav Opeylants’ staggering cinematography renders this fever dream unforgettable. He is also on board for this year’s Cannes offering from Serebrennikov, The Disappearance of Josef Mengele.
4. The Woodcutter Story 2022
Mikko Myllylahti’s The Woodcutter Story was the most pleasant surprise of the 2022 festival. Once again, we are dealing with a work from Semaine de la Critique. Yeah, yeah, you say. Less talk and more linking to the review and the interview. Strangely enough, the film was presented on the same day as…
3. EO 2022
If Myllylahti’s film was a surprise, the same can not be said about Jerzy Skolimowski’s latest film. One of the greatest Polish directors ever may have surpassed himself with this film centred around a donkey. This film is also famous because it generated one of the weirdest Letterboxd reviews ever, where the person in question was quite positive about the film but still said that he couldn’t connect with the donkey. The review of EO is here.
2. Annette 2021
The first post-COVID festival occurred in July 2021 instead of during the customary May slot. Even more unusual was that a competition film was the opening night’s entry. Since opening films at Cannes rank somewhere between mediocre and awful, my expectations on Annette were low. From the opening number, “So May We Start” (which was probably the reason why the move was chosen to start the fest), I was hooked. I reviewed the film twice, first from a Sparks-centric perspective and then from the viewpoint of director Leos Carax.
1. Enys Men
Mark Jenkin’s Enys Men was the best film of 2022. The interview I made with him in Cannes remains one of my favourites. It may not be a shock that I reviewed Enys Men, too.