The Cannes Film Festival started with the purpose of promoting films and contributing towards the development of cinema and the festival still continues to serve the same purpose over seven decades after its initiation.

For many filmmakers, the Cannes Film Festival is the first choice to debut their movie and every year, films of all genres, including documentaries, are previewed there. Here’s a look at five movies previewed at Cannes Film Festival 2021 that you should check out.

‘The Worst Person In The World’

The Worst Person in the World, which was screened at the Cannes Film Festival on July 8, is a film by director Joachim Trier who is known for making the 2017 horror drama Thelma. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Joachim Trier (@nobledanceroslo)

Unlike his previous works, this movie is a romantic drama. Centered on Julie (played by Renate Reinsve), The Worst Person in the World follows Julie as she struggles to find her identity while simultaneously trying to figure out her career path and love life. 

The movie is written by Trier and his longtime screenwriter Eskil Vogt and stars Herbert Nordrum, Anders Danielsen Lie, and Maria Grazia Di Meo alongside Reinsve.

‘Memoria’

Memoria, starring Academy Award winner Tilda Swinton, is acclaimed director, Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s first internationally co-produced film. The drama revolves around Jessica (Tilda Swinton), an expat living in Medellin who suddenly starts hearing a strange noise.

For reasons unknown, she is the only person who can perceive that sound. And on her journey to solve the mystery behind the sound, a new memory awakens inside her.

‘Drive My Car’

Drive My Car is a Japanese film by director Ryusuke Hamaguchi. It’s based on a short story of the same name by the illustrious author Haruki Murakami. The movie won the best screenplay at Cannes making it the first time any Japanese won for the category in Cannes’ 74-year history.

Drive My Car will be released in Japan in late August. So far, the US or international release dates haven’t been announced.

‘Everything Went Fine’

Everything Went Fine is a movie about euthanasia and assisted dying. André (played by André Dussollier), a wealthy industrialist who, after suffering from a stroke, wakes up paralyzed on the right.

Devastated by what had happened to him, André asks his daughter, Emmanuele (played by Sophie Marceau) to help him end his life. Emmanuele contacts a Swiss association to complete her father’s request as euthanasia is not legal in France.

As the day of their planned euthanasia draws closer, Everything Went Fine sheds more light on the dynamic of Emmanuele’s relationship with her father, their history, and the effect the upcoming event will have on her life.

‘The Story Of Film: A New Generation’

The Story of Film: A New Generation is a documentary by Irish Director Mark Cousins. The documentary looks at how cinema has changed over the years and its current state. 

The film asks and tries to answer many questions about cinema. How much has changed? How has it changed? What has remained the same? And most importantly, what’s the future?