Five years following “The Square”, the Swede Ruben Östlund won a second Palme d’or on Saturday at the 75th Cannes Film Festival with “Without Filter”, an enjoyable satire of the super-rich and luxury, undoubtedly the most entertaining film of the competition.
Euphoric on the stage of the Grand Théâtre Lumière, the Swede with a scathing humor joined, at 48, the very closed club of webbed doubles, including the Dardenne brothers and Ken Loach.
“The whole jury was extremely shocked by this film”
“The whole jury was extremely shocked by this film”announced Vincent Lindon, the president of the jury. “When we started this film, we had only one goal: to try to make a film that interests the public and makes them think provocatively”, said the Swede, receiving his award.
“Without Filter” follows the adventure of Yaya and Carl, a couple of models and influencers on vacation on a luxury cruise. A journey that turns to disaster. The director delivers an uncompromising critique of capitalism and its excesses.
While three Belgian films were in competition, Belgium won three prizes on Saturday evening during the closing ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival.
The Grand Prix, the second most prestigious distinction, was awarded ex-aequo to the Frenchwoman Claire Denis for “Stars at noon” and to the Belgian Lukas Dhont, the youngest of the competition, for “Close”. With
“Close”
, the young Belgian prodigy directs a film on friendship and responsibility. The feature film dives into the story of Léo and Rémi, 13 years old, lifelong friends until an unthinkable event separates them.
The main roles are played by newcomers Eden Dambrine and Gustav De Waele and actresses Émilie Dequenne and Léa Drucker. “I am very moved. Thank you to the jury. Thank you to the Cannes Film Festival. Thank you to my brother who was there from the beginning. We have been making films together since the age of 12”, said Lukas Dhont on stage.
The special prize for the 75th edition of the Cannes Film Festival was awarded to Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne for
“Tori et Lokita”,
which will be distributed next autumn in Belgium. With this ninth feature film presented in competition, the filmmakers deliver a poignant account of clandestinity, plunging into the story of two young exiles with an unbreakable bond, who have come to settle in Belgium.
“When we were preparing our film, in January 2021, a baker from Besançon went on a hunger strike for 12 days so that his apprentice, who was from Guinea, would not be expelled from France. It’s wonderful. Our film we dedicate it to this gentleman,
declared Luc Dardenne on stage, following the thanks to the jury made by his brother Jean-Pierre.
As for the movie “The Eight Mountains” by Felix van Groeningen and Charlotte Vandermeersch, he won, tied with “EO” by Polish Jerzy Skolimowski”, the Jury Prize.
In “Les Huit Montagnes”, the director duo, as a couple in life and in the cinema, explores through time the links that unite two friends, one from the city and the other from the mountains. With this film, Charlotte Vandermeersch takes her first steps as a filmmaker. As for Felix van Groeningen, he had already made an impression in 2009 by walking, naked and on a bike, the Croisette with the team of the film “La Merditude des Choses”, at the time presented at the Directors’ Fortnight , parallel section of the Cannes Film Festival.
“We would like to thank the festival for giving our film such a huge podium. And also the members of the jury. Wow! The jury prize is very beautiful! Thanks a lot“, reacted Charlotte Vandermeersch on stage. “We wanted to make a film that talks regarding life in all its fragility and strength. All these mountains to cross“, explained the actress and director. “I think Félix, that we were strong in making this film together and also very fragile. This film brought us together, it was necessary for us and it was very beautiful. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I like you“.
“It was something a little crazy. We are Belgians. We shot in Italy, with Italian actors. We learned Italian it was an exceptional trip (…) It was a fantastic cooperation between Belgium, Italy and France“, for his part underlined Felix van Groeningen on stage.
“We would like to thank Paolo Cognetti once more, the writer who put his heart into this book and we put our hearts into this film. And also our son Rufus for his love and patience with us“, a conclusion Charlotte Vandermeersch.