Garrel’s women come out of the shadows in Cannes

Directors’ Fortnight reveals opening film.

by Richard Mowe

Stanislas Merhar and Clotilde Courau in L’Ombre Des Femmes, slated to open the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight
Stanislas Merhar and Clotilde Courau in L’Ombre Des Femmes, slated to open the Cannes Directors’ Fortnight

Another French film has secured a top slot at the Cannes Film Festival. Philippe Garrel’s L’Ombre Des Femmes (The Shadow Of Women) with Clotilde Courau, Lena Paugam and Stanislas Merhar will open the Directors’ Fortnight selection on 14 May, it was announced today (15 April).

Edouard Waintrop, the Fortnight’s director, described it as “a love story about love and betrayals, both large and small. It is an elegant film, both cruel and tender about the cowardice of ordinary men, and the intelligence of women.”

Written by the legendary Jean-Claude Carrière (who was Luis Buñuel’s partner for 19 years) the story revolves around Pierre and Manon, a couple of poverty-stricken documentary makers who are set to weather a storm of love and romance in modern-day Paris. It is Garrel’s 25th feature and was filmed in black and white.

French director Emmanuelle Bercot’s La Tête Haute has been selected as the Festival’s official opening title (the selectors announced yesterday).

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