The jury of the 76th Cannes Film Festival awarded the Palme d’or to the film Anatomy of a Fall by Justine Triet. She is the third director to win the prestigious award.
French cinema once again at the top. This Saturday, May 27, the jury of the 76th Cannes Film Festival awarded the Palme d’Or to the film “Anatomy of a Fall”, directed by Justine Triet. This is only the third woman to win the most prestigious prize in the competition and the second Frenchwoman after Julia Ducournau in 2021 for “Titane”.
It was the great American artist Jane Fonda, invited to the Festival for a masterclass, who presented the trophy to the French director.
A very critical speech against the government
Upon receiving her award, the director denounced the government of Elisabeth Borne, which “shockingly denied” the protests against pension reform. Statements that were acclaimed in the Grand Auditorium Louis Lumière in Cannes, which hosted this closing ceremony.
“This pattern of dominating power, increasingly uninhibited, is breaking out in several areas”, estimated the director that there was a desire to “break the cultural exception without which (Justine Triet) would not be here today “.
This Palme d’or is the 11th for a feature film, if we count the “special” awarded to the film “Le Livre d’image” by Jean-Luc Godard. It is also the fourth in 15 years, after “Between the walls” by Laurent Cantet (2008), “La Vie d’Adèle” by Abdellatif Kechiche (2013) and “Titane” by Julia Ducournau.
What is it about ?
“Anatomy of a waterfall” follows the story of a family, Sandra, Samuel and Daniel, their 11-year-old visually impaired son, living isolated in the mountains, until the death of the father, found dead in front of the chalet. A year later, the mother’s trial unfolds before the eyes of the child, who sees justice dissect their family life.
Widely acclaimed by international critics, this trial film, lasting 2h30, was the favorite for the Palme d’Or. When it was screened on May 21, many hailed a “poisonous”, “dense” and wonderfully performed thriller.
In the casting, the German actress Sandra Hüller (“Toni Erdmann” or “Sibyl”, previous film by Justine Triet) lends her features to the mother, while Swann Arlaud, César for best actor for “Petit Paysan” in 2018, interprets his lawyer.
Scripted by Arthur Harari, companion of Justine Triet and director of “Onoda, 10,000 nights in the jungle” (César for best screenplay in 2022), “Anatomy of a fall” will be released in theaters on August 23, 2023, distributed by Le Pacte.