The most prestigious film festival in the world takes place in Cannes, France, and its 75th edition is scheduled to run from May 17th to May 28th, 2022. Always with a diverse set of movies, from critically acclaimed directors to new faces in the film industry, the festival presents the most intriguing and innovative motion pictures from all around the world, granting one special movie in the Palme D'Or: an award that is usually just enough to forever cement a movie in cinema history.
Palme D'Or winners can often be controversial and polemical. The latest, Titane, was a body-horror french movie that induced many walk-outs. Just as often, Palme D'Or winners can be movies that are unanimously celebrated by critics and cinephiles, instantly becoming cult classics. Letterboxd is a platform that unites both these audiences, and some of its Palme D'Or winners' rates can be quite surprising.
The Wages Of Fear (1953) - 4.2/5
In the '50s, few movies could manage to deliver such an incredible level of cinematic tension as The Wages of Fear. The french movie has quite a simple premise: in a South American village, four men are hired to transport a dangerous nitroglycerine shipment without the equipment that would make the trip safe.
It's one of those movies that makes viewers hold their breath throughout the whole running time while witnessing the harsh critique of the threatening working conditions. According to IMDb, the movie was even severely cut in its U.S. version due to scenes giving a negative portrayal of U.S. business interests.
Taxi Driver (1976) - 4.2/5
One of the most popular movies on this list, Taxi Driver offers many of Scorsese's trademarks in favor of ideas that are still relevant today, almost 50 years after its release. The film follows a solitary man who has nothing to lose and plots something that could finally change all the dirt and decay he sees around him, brilliantly portrayed by Robert DeNiro.
Scorsese conducts the violent journey of an unpredictable anti-hero in a New York filled with morally ambiguous characters and urban decadence. With many memorable scenes and quotes, Taxi Driver remains an atemporal cult classic and a brutal reflection of society.
The Pianist (2002) - 4.3/5
The Pianist is one of the most important movies about the Second World War and the Holocaust, portraying the heart-rending true story of the Polish pianist, Wladyslaw Szpilman, one of the many people of Jewish descent who had to fight for survival. However, Wladylaw's fight is a silent and stealthy one, as he eventually witnesses the world he used to know fall apart and his loved ones disappear and never return.
It's that kind of inherently melancholic movie that doesn't need to be overly dramatic to break the viewer's heart, and most of it is due to the outstanding performance of Adrien Brody, in a role that rightfully earned him an Academy Award.
The Given Word (1962) - 4.3/5
One of the most important movies in the history of Brazilian Cinema, The Given Word follows Zé, a very poor man who, in the face of his donkey's imminent death, promises to carry a cross all the way from his city to a church in the state capital if his donkey recovers. His wish comes true and Zé sets out to Saint Barbara's church, where he is greeted with hostility by the local priest due to the context of Zé's promise.
The movie deals with themes such as the clash of religions and the boundaries of faith, portraying the problems of a multicultural country like Brazil denying its roots. Filled with symbolism and aspects of the local culture, The Given Word is a great entry for international cinema.
Pulp Fiction (1994) - 4.3/5
At the 47th Cannes Film Festival, this Palme D'Or win came as a surprise to everyone since most people believed the award would go to renowned director Krzysztof Kieslowski. In one unforgettable Cannes moment, a woman in the balcony screamed "Pulp Fiction is s##t", as Quentin Tarantino responded simply with a middle finger while accepting the award.
It's the movie that popularized Quentin Tarantino as one of the best and most inventive directors of all time. With an intricate non-linear narrative where ambiguous characters cross each other's paths in a series of chaotic events, Pulp Fiction still holds up today as a vital part of pop culture and a huge influence to rising filmmakers.
The Cranes Are Flying (1957) - 4.3/5
After walking together along the river and watching the cranes fly, Veronica and Boris fall in love but are abruptly separated when Boris is drafted into the horrors of World War II. Balancing lyricism with a sorrowful grasp of reality, the film portrays the desperation of two lovers that might never consummate their love.
The subjective camera style used by Sergey Urusevsky in this movie is considered one of the most incredible in cinema history, along with other techniques he learned when he was a military cameraman during the war. Up to this day, The Cranes Are Flying is still considered one of the best war-romance movies of all time.
Eternity And A Day (1998) - 4.3/5
Directed by praised Greek director Theo Angelopoulos, Eternity and a Day is the delicate story of Alexander, a man who is ill and has only a few days to live. Contemplating his inescapable death, he meets a boy who is an illegal immigrant from Albania and decides to help him, setting out on a surreal journey where past and present collide, and long-lost memories return to greet Alexander at the end of his life.
Angelopoulos films often have a dreamy atmosphere and let the viewers decide what is reality and what is not. Eternity and a Day is a celebration of life and death, memories and dreams, and ultimately, friendship and love.
Paris, Texas (1984) - 4.3/5
Crafted by the hands of one of the most talented directors of all time, Wim Wenders, Paris, Texas is a masterpiece that mixes many different genders in one single movie. The film follows a troubled man called Travis as he wanders through the desert without knowing who he is. When his brother finds him, Travis is reunited with his son and tries to get back the life he led before he walked out on his loved ones and disappeared four years earlier.
Paris, Texas plays with the audience, as viewers tend to grow more and more sympathetic with the peculiar protagonist and his efforts to put together his puzzling life, as the movie gradually progresses toward an inconsolable truth.
Apocalypse Now (1979) - 4.4/5
Apparently, the Cannes jury has a soft heart for anti-war movies. Apocalypse Now is directed by Francis Ford Coppola, responsible for another timeless masterpiece, The Godfather, and features a marvelous ensemble cast, as the horrors of the Vietnam War are unraveled before the viewers in a constant atmosphere of bewilderment and defeat.
No other war movie ever made had the impact of Apocalypse Now, covering the atrocities of the war in visually stunning landscapes consumed by inevitable decay. It remains one of the best and most intense psychological war movies, with a clear anti-war message that still holds up today.
Parasite (2019) - 4.6/5
Parasite is not only the highest-rated Cannes Palme D'Or winner on Letterboxd, but it's also actually the number one highest-rated movie of all time on the site. Sweeping every major prize in the award season, including Best Picture at the Oscars, it was also a massive box office hit, grossing over $260 million on a $15.5 million budget.
No other foreign movie has done so well in the past decade, and the deserved success is due to Parasite's narrative twits, taking turns in genres such as comedy, drama, thriller, and even horror sometimes. It's wonderfully written and directed by Bong Joon-ho and premiered at the 72nd Cannes Festival, with the Palme D'Or win marking the first step in Parasite's booming path of success.