Félix de Givry's Adieu Monde Cruel closes Cannes Critics' Week with raw emotion
Félix de Givry’s new film Adieu Monde Cruel has premiered as the closing selection of Cannes Critics’ Week. The coming-of-age drama follows a bullied teenager who survives a suicide attempt after sending a farewell letter. Behind the project stands a team including Natalie Portman and Sophie Mas as producers, alongside de Givry’s own company, Remembers. The film marks Jane Beever’s first major feature role as Léna, a classmate of the protagonist. She landed the part after responding to an Instagram casting call. Milo Machado-Graner takes on the lead role of Otto Vidal, the bullied teenager at the story’s heart.
De Givry drew from his own experiences of teenage bullying to shape the script. His previous work, *Ugo Bienvenu’s Arco*, earned an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature and competed in Cannes’ Official Selection last year. The director has described the awards campaign for *Arco* as a rewarding journey. *Adieu Monde Cruel* now enters the spotlight as Critics’ Week wraps up, with de Givry’s personal and professional background adding depth to its themes.
The film’s premiere at Cannes caps a significant moment for its cast and crew. Beever’s casting via social media highlights modern pathways into acting, while de Givry’s semi-autobiographical approach grounds the story in lived experience. With producers like Portman and Mas involved, the project now moves forward with industry attention firmly secured.
