From The Hollywood Reporter · David Canfield · · 1m 10s
The Cannes Debut Nobody Saw Coming
Cannes was packed with celebrated veterans, but a first-time director's teen drama walked off with the festival's loudest word of mouth.
In brief
Cannes was packed with celebrated veterans, but a first-time director's teen drama walked off with the festival's loudest word of mouth. La Gradiva, Marine Atlan's first feature, is the fall festival title to catch: a Critics' Week Grand Prize winner sitting at 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Originally reported by…
Cannes was stacked
This year's lineup ran heavy on established names from Europe and Asia: Hamaguchi, Farhadi, Almodóvar, Kore-eda, Mungiu, Pawlikowski, Zvyagintsev.
“overstuffed with masters of European and Asian cinema”
Not every master landed
Some of the most anticipated new work played better than others. A handful are now touring the fall festivals, hunting for Oscar momentum.
The surprise on the Croisette
The clear critical favorite in May was a teen-centered drama programmed outside the Main Competition: La Gradiva.
“one teen-centered drama programmed outside of the Main Competition emerged as the clear critical favorite that no one saw coming”
A first film, not a comeback
La Gradiva is Marine Atlan's debut feature. No back catalog, no festival pedigree, just the movie itself.
It won Critics' Week
The film took the Grand Prize in the Critics' Week sidebar, the section built specifically to find new directors.
Reviews have not wavered
The Hollywood Reporter called it a stunning feature debut, and months later it still sits at 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
“stunning feature debut”
In short
La Gradiva, Marine Atlan's first feature, is the fall festival title to catch: a Critics' Week Grand Prize winner sitting at 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
