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I'm incredibly happy that my internal assessment agreed with the main jury of this year's Cannes Film Festival, headed by Ruben Östlund (Triangle of Sadness, The Square), and that Anatomy of a Fall won the main prize, the Palme d'Or. I was incredibly surprised by Justine Triet because I found Sibyl, the last film she presented at Cannes, rather mediocre. On the other hand, it was the first time I saw Sandra Hüller and I was immediately attracted to her, her scenes are the best of the film. Anatomy of a Fall jumps to the top of my rating system and I consider it a masterpiece that I will definitely want to see again. Sandra, Samuel and their son Daniel live in the mountains, not far from Grenoble. The opening scene already suggests that Sandra and Samuel's relationship is likely to be strained, and a few minutes later, Samuel is found dead. The investigation into this mysterious death, which basically admits only two theories, and the subsequent trial, leads to a deep analysis of the couple's relationship. Daniel, who, despite his visual impairment, is a key witness, also has to take part in all this. So far, it doesn’t look like an original and innovative story, right? But Justine Triet manages to present this theme seen a thousand times before in a fresh and unusual way. I can say for myself that I loved every minute of the long running time, I wasn't bored for a second and I can't find a single dead spot. A lot of credit goes to all the actors, whose performances are breathtaking. Sandra Hüller is undoubtedly the queen, but Milo Machado Graner is equally fabulous, and I have to give credit to Antoine Reinartz as the prosecutor. The screenplay and the dialogues also deserve credit. The gradual unraveling of the relationship dynamics between Sandra and Samuel, the revelation of their pasts, problems and disputes to help reveal the truth, as well as Daniel's contradiction between his own memories and what he hears in court, which leads to his utter confusion, are absolutely brilliant. The figure of Daniel, tormented by uncertainty and doubt, is of crucial importance for the denouement, and at the same time it is a mirror of the viewers themselves, who also cannot say for sure how it all happened. A very important moment is the dialogue between Daniel and the social worker: When we are in doubt and unsure, we have no choice but to make a decision... and so, in the end, must we. [Festival de Cannes 2023]

The second Gondry film I've had the chance to see and I'm beginning to understand his huge popularity (at least in France, the response in the cinema was incredible). I won't go on at length, but it’s the best comedy I had the pleasure of seeing at Cannes, and probably one of the best comedies of the last few years. I don't think I've ever seen so much laughter in a movie theater. I wish so much that other directors would take at least a little example from French comedies, they are so fresh, unpredictable, with novel humour and dialogue. A great Pierre Niney, who made me cry with laughter with his conducting scene. One big Bravo. Put this film on your radar, if it comes to us as part of the French Film Festival, don't miss it. [Festival de Cannes 2023]

This is one big caress to the soul. A beautiful ode to French cuisine, the French language and to love itself. The opening twenty minute or so cooking scene is a masterpiece, so be warned, don't watch it hungry :D In this film, food is the main character, it's either prepared or consumed, or it's very colourfully and poetically assessed and described, in a way that perhaps only the French can do. The production design is amazingly detailed and it wasn't until the end of the film that I noticed that there was no music; the soundtrack is the sounds of the kitchen: the bubbling of boiling water, the sizzling of oil in the pan, the shuffling of pots on the stove, a wooden spoon sliding on a skillet, the crackling of the fire in the fireplace, the clinking of cutlery on plates. Cooking here is not just a tool to fill the stomach and satisfy the appetite, cooking is portrayed as a very important way of communication, to express love and feelings where words are not enough. Similarly, the relationship between Eugenie and Dodin is beautifully and delicately portrayed. They love each other, admire each other, cook for each other with love. This film is like a dream. And rightfully won the Best Director award at Cannes. [Festival de Cannes 2023]

One of the coziest and most endearing romantic comedies I know, and one I love coming back to. Probably most of the credit for this goes to the casting choices, which are extremely likeable. Steve Carell is a great fit, you wish him love. I actually discovered him through this film and he immediately became one of my favorites. Juliette Binoche is very cute and her laugh must put a smile on everyone's face. My favourite Emily Blunt appears here too and the whole plot with her is endearingly comical. As I mentioned at the beginning, Dan in Real Life is a great, easygoing, authentic, and sweet film that caresses the soul.

The most surprising documentary in my life. It's been a few days since I saw the film and I still have that warm feeling it evoked in me. I’m recommending it to everyone. An incredible caress to the soul. The last time I was this moved was maybe in 2011 with Intouchables. I’ve always loved octopi... on a plate, but now I can’t imagine myself eating one ever again! For the first time in my life I'm thinking about vegetarianism, and so far no film has managed to do that – even videos from slaughterhouses or factory farms have failed to have any effect on me, and yet this film doesn't even push the idea that eating animals is wrong. How is it possible? Because this documentary has a heart, it doesn't offer much in terms of science, just heart, love and respect for animals and nature. For me, just wow!

When was the last time you took a good look at your hands and thought about how essential they are to you? When was the last time you felt grateful for them? Whether you want to use a lighter, ring the doorbell, pat someone on the cheek, unlock your door, wipe your tears... you need hands. After this film, you won't notice anything else for a few days. And that's why I Lost My Body is one of the few understated films I'm grateful for. It is not predictable, it is unconventionally absorbing. It has two intertwined story lines: one is cute, tender and touching, the other is raw and even horrific. They are accompanied by Dan Levy's fantastically haunting and enchanting music, and together, it all makes one big unforgettable must see piece of work.

What is this? A big surprise that delighted me immensely. Great humour, original, inventive and entertaining dialogues, but the main thing I have to highlight are the performances of the two male leads, because I had a great time with Asa Butterfield and Ncuti Gatwa. Their characters are fun, and their expressions, their grimaces... just perfection. Asa is talented, but we've known that for a while, but Ncuti aka Eric is the acting discovery of the year for me. It's true that I enjoyed the comedy episodes a bit more, because there's a momentum and punch to it. Once it gets more dramatic, it certainly doesn't get boring, but it does detract a bit from the overall mood of the series. Actually, it has only one flaw, not enough episodes, I would have taken more if it kept the quality.

I think I first saw this film on TV when I was fifteen, and as befits that sentimental age, I properly cried. The next day, I already had the soundtrack on MP3 and I didn't listen to anything else for six months. After almost fifteen years, when I am that much older, I had the opportunity to see Moulin Rouge on the big screen as part of the musical package at SFS 2018. My love for this film is obviously undying, because despite having seen it maybe 50 times, I had more fun than ever. The atmosphere in the auditorium was amazing and it was clear that I was surrounded by like-minded fans. Proof of that was the applause that followed the "Like a Virgin" scene. Another amazing moment was when the naively blinded Duke realizes that Christian and Satine are in love, and many people in the room gasped in horror at that moment, and I thought: there are some lucky people who haven't seen the film yet, and I was a little jealous. I thoroughly enjoyed this colourful, kitsch and pompous ride, devouring every moment, singing every song in my head, tapping my foot to every rhythm, laughing at the crazy scenes and shedding a tear at "Your Song" when in the first seconds of Christian's great singing Satine finally shuts up and the night Paris lights up. What else can I praise? The perfect mix of songs, brilliantly performed? The great performances that are moving but also entertaining? The great choreographies? The costumes and sets? I wish I could still raise the rating because Moulin Rouge is perfect and spectacular in every way and I can't wait to watch it again.

Probably one of the most visually and thematically compelling documentaries I've had the opportunity to see so far. It consists of perfectly and contrastingly composed shots of masses of people and pristine nature, complemented by intimate snapshots of individuals who share with us bits and pieces of their lives and their views of the world. The contrast beautifully underlines the fact that each person has their own story, but also that we are basically not so different from one another. It doesn't matter the country we live in, the colour of our skin, our gender or our age, sooner or later we all ask ourselves the same fundamental questions. Love, wealth, family, time, meaning and death may mean different things to each person, but in the end we are all members of the same species: we are human beings facing the same fate. The path can, however, be radically different. Someone has a cheerful life, someone is filled with pain, someone lives in poverty, someone fights for life every day, someone lives in luxury, and that makes us all different. Whenever I’m bothered by some stupid thing or overwhelmed by gloom, I'll try to remember the people who are happy just to have something to eat and a place to sleep that day. This is a documentary full of contrasts that makes us think a bit, and I like that.

One of the best conversational dramas I've seen, downright original and quite topical, funny, sad and a little, or maybe even a lot, depressing at the same time. The end adds a subversive dimension to everything that happened at that dinner – eccellente!