MUST-SEE FILMS FROM THE CANNES FESTIVAL
words by SANYEE BARJOGARÓN
editor MAREK BARTEK
The 2025 Cannes festival has come again, unveiling yet another line up of unique films that are a must-see for all cinema enthusiasts. As dresses dazzle the red carpet and popular faces grace the silver screens during the premieres, these are the seven films that have captivated attention from under the Rivera sun!
THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME
image credit The Phoenician Scheme via imdb.com
Wes Anderson’s ‘The Phoenician Scheme’ transports us into a fictionalized middle eastern setting. The new comedic espionage flick seems to keep Anderson’s signature charm and introduces us to funny characters with familiar faces. Starring a stellar cast of Benicio del Toro, Scarlet Johansson, Michael Cera, Willem Dafoe, Tom Hanks, Benedict Cumberbatch and more—it’s impossible to expect anything else but pure entertainment taking place on the backdrop of Wes Anderson’s iconic cinematic style. With the premise about a wealthy businessman appointing his nun daughter to run his estate only to get targeted by assassins and terrorists, we sure are in for a spectacle full of perfect symmetry and brilliant performances!
THE HISTORY OF SOUND
image credit The History of Sound via imdb.com
Director Oliver Hermanus introduces us to a brilliant historical romantic drama featuring Josh O’ Connor and Paul Mescal The film adaptation based on the short namesake story by Ben Shattuckaims to bring romance and music to the forefront, as we watch the relationship of two men who meet during World War I. They travel through New England countryside in summer to record the voice, music and lives of American countrymen. What we hope to see is some rich storytelling, and fantastic wardrobe and sets that will bring the early 1900s to life in a way that will uniquely showcase a new narrative to the LGBTQ genre of films. And of course, nothing less than incredible performances from O’Connor and Mescal in this upcoming historical drama!
HIGHEST 2 LOWEST
image credit Highest 2 Lowest via imdb.com
The team up of A24 and Apple Films alone already promises something great. Add the legendary director Spike Lee, Denzel Washington as the lead, and it’s guaranteed that this neo-noir crime thriller is sure to get a lot of attention at the Cannes festival. Other big names like Jeffery Wright and A$AP Rocky will also be making an appearance in this masterful reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa 1963 film High and Low! The plot revolves around a music mogul that gets targeted! With Denzel and Spike Lee teaming up once again, this film is sure to leave an impression on all the eyes that get to witness it at the festival! We are looking forward to another masterpiece by Mr. Lee!
SENTIMENTAL VALUE
This Norwegian film is a comedic drama by director Joachim Trier promising to bring many heartfelt and joyous moments. The premise of the film explores family and memories, and goes into the depth of the power of art. It will be nice to see something fresh and tender. Starring Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Cory Michael Smith and Elle Fanning, we hope to see earnest performances to an enjoyable story that will leave its audience with a sense of wanting.
image credit Sentimental Value via imdb.com
PILLION
image credit Pillion via imdb.com
Starring Alexander Skarsgård, this British drama is going to kick off a lot of fun vibes at the film festival. Directed by Harry Lighton, Pillion is about a timid man named Colin (Harry Melling). He meets Ray (Skarsgård), a gang leader, who he begins a submissive relationship with, that pushes and challenges Colin’s boundaries. With such a plot, we are almost definitely in for a lot of daring moments, and moments that will bring both laughter and intense feelings! It’s exciting to see Skarsgård step into this kind of role. It’s safe to say we are all curious to see what ensues in this story, and this kinky gay romance will surely not disappoint!
THE SECRET AGENT
image credit The Secret Agent via imdb.com
We are being fed with a lot of historical dramas this year at the festival, but this one particularly stands out as a historical thriller. ‘The Secret Agent’ is a political thriller directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho, and follows a teacher who gets involved in political turmoil during the final years of a Brazilian military dictatorship, trying to escape from his mysterious past in hopes to have peace! Packed with adrenaline and mystery within its story is what might just make it a possible nominee during the upcoming award season. There is a certain type of aura around the premise of this film that is sure to leave audiences entertained while the thrills unravel through its duration!
ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA
image credit Once Upon A Time in Gaza via imdb.com
This film is sure to be a tear jerker, or at least it manages to stir up conversations that we all seem to have forgotten. Directors Tarzan and Arab Nasser bring to the forefront a film about a conflict between Hamas and the people of Gaza.The main protagonist, Yahia, is dealing with the loss of someone close to him who has been brutally murdered. It seems to be a tale about revelation and vengeance that will resonate with everyone watching, as the thematic backdrop of this film is so relevant in today’s ongoing conflict. This grim and dramatic story will hopefully cause people to discuss and will become yet another Palestinian film that will take it all the way to award season!
There’s a lot to look forward to at this year’s Cannes festival, with an impressive line up full of films that are sure to make waves during award season! As the festival comes to a close, all that’s left for us to do is to wait until these films premiere on streaming platforms and our local theater!
