The story of Jafar Panahi's revenge or family drama Joachim Trier? For whom the gold palm

A nineteen -minute standing ovation for the film by Joachim Trier “Sentimental Value” and excellent reviews make him the main candidate for the Golden Palm. But even better reviews and the first place in the critics ranking are taken many times by the Iranian director Jafar Panahi and his “Un Simple Accident”. We will find out to one of them, we will find out tonight.

For some time, betting the Golden Palm winner in Cannes is like a divination from coffee grounds. The tastes of critics and viewers are completely dismantling with the tastes of members of the Jury of the Main Competition. This year, his work is chaired by the great star of French and world cinema – winner Oscar Juliette Binoche.

Two mentioned – extremely different – titles are at the top of the ranking of critics present in Cannes, published for decades in “Screen Daily”. Both were also well received by viewers and if you believe critics, both have great chances for prizes. Everyone is a masterful work in their genre.

Looking at the winners of the last few years, the festival on the Cote d'Azur seems to lead to productions about contemporary dilemmas. In contrast to earlier years, he also seems to avoid politics, which would give priority to the film by the Norwegian director. On the other hand, the Iranian Iranian, who was present after a 22 -year break, Jafar Panahi brought a work resulting from his prison experiences. Question: when, if not now, when in Ukraine There is a war, and dramatic news about the files of genocide comes from the Gaza Strip, just a cinema about another authoritarian regime should be noticed and appreciated?

Jafar Panahi will definitely leave Cannes with the prize. We just don't know if it will be the most important – golden palm.

About trauma, revenge and moral dilemmas

Absolute regime and its victims, and then revenge, i.e. an attempt to align bills. Panahi says directly that the idea for this film was born when he was in prison. The Iranian authorities arrested him and sentenced him to prison for allegedly “slandering Iran, false stories.” His friends from the cell went there for participating in anti -government protests or too loudly given critical opinions on the government. From his own experiences, but from conversations with prisoners, who in their imagination took revenge for their evil, he made a fictitious story, which, however, bears all the signs of probability.

Like many of his films, this one begins with the scene of a driving car, which goes to the nearest workshop as a result of a failure. His owner in the driver recognizes the Commissioner of the Iranian police, who tortured him so that he forever destroyed his kidneys. He decides to kidnap him and justice. He will also ensure that other victims of the commissioner join him and also have the opportunity to take revenge on the torturer. There is only one problem – neither the kidnapper nor his companions are 100 % sure that the driver is certainly the one who tortured them. What “unmasks” him is primarily a prosthesis of the leg. And when it seems that the decision “what next?” It fell, the director funds such a crazy twist that this painful drama takes on a comedy tone.

But the Iranian filmmaker is also well known from this. Panahi is not the first time to consider the difference between the law to retaliation and the act of justice, in the most grabbing scenes, disarming their drama with elements of quite unusual humor.

It is worth adding that this is Mr. Ms.'s first film for over two decades, in which he did not have to plant himself in the main role. Earlier, there was a ban on playing in his films.

Sensitive comedy drama

Joachim Trier fell in love with the audience in Cannes, when in 2021 he arrived with a romantic comedy other than all, the film “The worst man in the world”. The festival's biggest discovery was then playing the main role, previously unknown to Renate Reinsve, awarded for the role of the Golden Palm. The film itself was later nominated for the Oscar for the best original script.

According to critics, and taking into account 19-minute applause, the new picture is even better. So it should start with the fact that “Sentimental Value” was conceived as a continuation of that hit, although it talks about something completely different. Reinsve is partner here by the Hollywood star Elle Fanning, and in the role of the decent father of two daughters Stellan Skarsgård performs.

Father, a well -known director, appears at the funeral of their mother, whom he and his daughters abandoned when they were small. Now he cares about renewing the relationship. But not only on this. He suggests that the main role in his new film should be performed by the older daughter of Nora (Resive), today a well -known actress, although still fighting with huge anxiety disorders. When the girl refuses, the father brings the American star (fanning). However, she realizes that he is only a pawn in the game of father and daughters.

Trier with a characteristic subtlety but also is observing family relationships. He talks about the wounds inflicted by people loved by people, but also about the need to forgive and reconciliation. “Trier has once again created a film that is full of tenderness, brilliant, thought -out and surprising. But he softened the tons, directing his eyes to the interior of the family, which is trying to come to terms with a painful past. It will certainly be one of the most important candidates for prizes in the Oscar season” – writes the critic “Vanity Fair”. Others follow him.

Will the jury appreciate the image of Norwegian or will they reach for titles that did not gain the favor of journalists and viewers? We'll find out this soon.