Kratika Agarwal
16-May-2025
Our picks of the most buzz worthy movies, set to be screened at the French Riviera!
The Cannes Film Festival, as the name suggests, is not just about red carpets, spotlights and glamour. It is about the hands that craft the magic behind the scenes, the storytellers, the directors, the visual wizards, and the actors who breathe life into every frame. This is their moment, and ours to honour them. We have curated the best movies that are screened at the Cannes Film Festival this year. Read below and take your picks!
1. The Chronology of Water
With her directorial debut, Kristen Stewart steps into the world of filmmaking. The Chronology of Water is a poetic and deeply personal story, perfect for those who find healing through art, emotion, and rediscovery. Inspired by Lidia Yuknavitch’s powerful memoir, the film follows Lidia’s (Imogen Poots) journey through trauma, identity, and the search for meaning. It’s a story of survival, love, and learning to breathe again.
2. The Mastermind
Schemes, money moves, and high-stakes action – audiences have long been hooked on a good heist film. And Kelly Reichardt’s The Mastermind might just be the next big one on that list. Set in the 1970s, this action-packed thriller follows Mooney, a man with ambition and a master plan. As he assembles his crew and sets his sights on the prize, the film takes us deep into the world of strategy, suspense, and risk. Adding to the excitement is Josh O’Connor, fresh off his success in Challengers, now stepping into a completely different role that’s sure to surprise fans.
3. Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning
Tom Cruise, Tom Cruise, Tom Cruise! Is there even another reason to glue yourself to the screen at Cannes this year? Possibly. But let’s be honest: when Ethan Hunt shows up in a tuxedo and then proceeds to leap off a building or wing-walk a plane, everything else can wait. Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, The Final Reckoning serves as a culmination of nearly three decades of Ethan Hunt's adventures and is drenched in nostalgia and flashbacks. In what could be Hunt’s final mission, he races against time to fight a new and formidable enemy, an AI called ‘ENTITY’.
4. Sentimental Value
We’ve seen many films explore the bond between mothers and daughters, but this one shifts the spotlight to fathers. Sentimental Value beautifully captures the complexity of a father-daughter relationship during an unexpected family reunion. The story unfolds when an estranged father, a sought-after film director, returns to support his daughters. Hoping to reconnect, he offers one of them the lead role in his upcoming film. But things take a complicated turn when he decides to cast a younger actress instead, one eager to seize the opportunity. What follows is a moving journey of conflict, growth, and healing, as each character thinks over second chances, forgiveness, and the ties that never fully break.
5. Charak
Charak, directed by Sheiladitya Moulik, draws its narrative from the traditional Bengali Charak Puja ritual and explores the theme of blind faith. CHARAK delves into the unsettling realm of occult rituals and the extreme manifestations of faith. Set against the backdrop of India's Charak Mela, an annual Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Kali, the film explores the intense interplay between faith, rituals, and human extremities. It shines a light on the eerie traditions, sacrifices, and occult practices that remain hidden within the folds of religious devotion.
6. The Phoenician Scheme
Is there anyone left untouched by the charm of Wes Anderson’s signature storytelling? With a cast packed with stars like Michael Cera, Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Benicio del Toro, and Mia Threapleton, The Phoenician Scheme promises to be a cinematic experience like no other. The story unfolds around a wealthy estate passed down to a daughter, which sets off a chain of espionage-filled events involving schemers, secrets, and assassins. True to Anderson’s style, the film blends quirky humour with rich visuals. The movie also dives deep into themes of loss, pain, and the complicated layers of human emotion.
7. Eleanor The Great
How special are the friendships that blossom between generations, between the wisdom of old age and the curiosity of youth? Scarlett Johansson brings us just that in Eleanor the Great, a heartwarming story set in modern-day New York City. At the centre is Eleanor, a 90-year-old woman navigating the loneliness that often comes with age. Life takes a gentle turn when she crosses paths with a 19-year-old student, and an unexpected bond begins to form. Together, they share stories, struggles, and laughter, reminding us that friendship knows no age.
8. Highest 2, Lowest
New York City is for dreamers, but awake are those who are living it. Taking us through some complexities of lives and issues like morality and social disparity, this movie, made under Spike Lee’s direction, comes inspired by Akira Kurosawa's "High and Low", which was an excellent specimen of film noir in its time. Follow along to see what happens when a musician finds himself trapped in a ransom, unlocking some unawaited episodes of his life.
