Devendra Kumar
The curtain closed on the 77th Cannes Film Festival with French filmmaker Justine Triet receiving the coveted Palme d’Or for her courtroom drama Anatomy Of A Fall. Triet’s film, which stars Sandra Huller as a writer trying to prove her innocence in her husband’s death, beat out tough competition from new films by acclaimed directors, including Wes Anderson and Todd Haynes. This marks only the third time a woman has won the top honour at the French festival, following in the footsteps of Jane Campion and Julia Ducournau, who both took home the award in previous years.
Veteran actress Jane Fonda presented the award to Triet, who has previously directed two other films, Age Of Panic and Sibyl. The Palme d’Or is the highest prize awarded at the festival and was introduced in 1955 by the festival’s organizing committee.
The ceremony also saw accolades go to other films and filmmakers. Jonathan Glazer’s The Zone Of Interest took home the Grand Prix, while Aki Kaurismaki’s Fallen Leaves won the jury prize. Koji Yakusho was awarded best actor for his role in Wim Wenders’ Perfect Days, and Turkish star Merve Dizdar took home the best actress award for her role in Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s About Dry Grasses.
Tran Anh Hung won best director for Pot-au-Feu, a love story starring Juliette Binoche and Benoit Magimel set in a 19th-century French gourmet chateau. Yuji Sakamoto received the best screenplay award for Monster, which also won the Queer Palm for its strong LGBT themes.
Harrison Ford received an honorary Palme d’Or ahead of the world debut screening of his new film Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny, and said he was “deeply moved and humbled” by the honour. Johnny Depp also returned to the spotlight with the premiere of his new historical drama Jeanne Du Barry, his first major onscreen appearance since his high-profile defamation case with his ex-wife Amber Heard last year.