Film director Ruben Ostlund from Sweden wins Palme d'Or award
Triangle of Sadness Wins Palme d'Or at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival
The 75th Cannes Film Festival concluded with Ruben Östlund's "Triangle of Sadness" being awarded the Palme d'Or, the highest prize of the event. This marks the second time Östlund has received this prestigious award, following his win in 2017 with "The Square."
The satirical comedy, divided into three acts, explores themes of social hierarchy, relationships, and the absurdity of the world of luxury and fame. The story follows Carl and Yaya, a couple working in the fashion industry, who find themselves on a luxury cruise ship with a mix of wealthy individuals, models, and influencers.
The shipwreck leads to chaos and stranding on a deserted island, providing Östlund with an opportunity to critique societal norms and the superficiality of the wealthy elite. Woody Harrelson plays a Marxist captain who becomes a key figure in the plot.
A total of 21 films were in contention for the award this year. Other notable winners include "Decision To Leave," directed by Park Chan-wook, taking home the best director award, and "Boy From Heaven," directed by Tarik Saleh, being awarded the best screenplay.
The festival also saw protests against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with Ukrainian filmmakers of Butterfly Vision holding up a banner that read: "Russians kill Ukrainians. Do you find it offensive or disturbing to talk about this genocide?" Protesters also disrupted the premiere of George Miller's "Three Thousand Years of Longing," storming the red carpet with a message "stop raping us" written across their bodies in Ukraine flag colours.
Tom Cruise made a memorable appearance at the festival, receiving an "exceptional tribute" for his lifetime achievements. He walked the red carpet twice during the event, once for the premiere of Top Gun: Maverick and again for an "exceptional tribute" ceremony. Cruise was recognized for his work in Top Gun, as well as his roles in films like Rain Man, Vanilla Sky, Jerry Maguire, The Last Samurai, and the Mission: Impossible series.
Priscilla, Cruise's ex-wife, walked the red carpet alongside Austin Butler, who plays the title role in Elvis, and Oscar-winner Tom Hanks, who plays Elvis's manager Colonel Tom Parker. The premiere of Baz Luhrmann's biopic about the King's rise to fame during the 1950s was also hosted at the festival.
The Cannes Film Festival returned to its normal schedule this year after being cancelled in 2020 and rescheduled for July in 2021 due to Covid-19. Vincent Lindon led the festival's jury, which also included Rebecca Hall, Deepika Padukone, Noomi Rapace, Jasmine Trinca, Asghar Farhadi, Lady Ly, Jeff Nichols, and Joachim Trier.
Zar Amir Ebrahimi was named best actress for her role in "Holy Spider," and Song Kang-ho took home the best actor award for "Broker." The short film Palme d'Or was awarded to "The Water Murmurs," directed by Jianying Chen.
The Palme d'Or was introduced in 1955 and has been awarded to a diverse range of films over the years. This year's winner, "Triangle of Sadness," offers a darkly comedic critique of class and social inequality, using satire to expose the flaws in modern society's values and behaviors.
Movies-and-tv, such as "Triangle of Sadness" and "Elvis," were featured prominently at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, offering both entertainment and thought-provoking commentary on various themes. Some films, like "Triangle of Sadness," address social hierarchy, relationships, and the absurdity of the world of luxury and fame, while others, like "Elvis," provide a glimpse into the rise to fame of a legendary figure.
