Cannes 2021: The Halfway Point

The first weekend of Cannes is the midpoint in the marathon that will crown this year’s filmmakers and actors, their work, and their ideas. There’s also an established Cannes lore that says that films shown on this particular weekend are lucky and/or blessed with the jurors’ full attention. No scientific test has proved it, but this year the majority of pictures shown at the Grand Theatre Lumière have been warmly received, and the standing ovation – four, five minutes of it – has become a regular reaction from the distinct audience. It could be the power of this year’s crop, or perhaps the joy of having the festival back in its full glory. Or both.