The Cannes Film Festival ended with a bang this weekend, and Justine Triet’s latest film Anatomy of a Fall emerged as the ultimate winner. She made history as only the third woman in the festival’s history to win its highest honor, the prestigious Palme d’Or.
Anchored by the powerful performance by the German actress Sandra Hüller, Anatomy of a Fall revolves around a German writer who’s been arrested on murder charges after her husband died under mysterious circumstances at their secluded chalet in the French Alps.
The jury president Ruben Östlund said they had a lot of fun and intense discussions because the lineup this year was very strong, but ultimately decided that Triet should take the top prize home.
“This is a film that everyone stands behind on the jury. One thing that came out [of our deliberations] was that these films created a collective experience. The Palme d’Or winner was an intense experience – it’s what cinema should be,” said Östlund.
Triet’s win was quite historic because she became only the third woman to win Palme d’Or at Cannes. She joins Jane Campion and Julia Ducournau, who was a member of the main competition jury this year, alongside Denis Ménochet, Paul Dano, and Brie Larson.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS AT THE 2023 CANNES FILM FESTIVAL:
Palme d’Or
Anatomy of a Fall, dir: Justine Triet
Grand Prize
The Zone of Interest, dir: Jonathan Glazer
Best Director
Tranh Anh Hung, The Pot-au-Feu
Jury Prize
Fallen Leaves, dir: Aki Kaurismaki
Best Screenplay
Yuji Sakamato, Monster
Best Actress
Merve Dizdar, About Dry Grasses
Best Actor
Koji Yakusho, Perfect Days
Camera d’Or
Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell, dir: Thien An Pham
Short Film Palme d’Or
27, dir: Flóra Anna Buda
Special Mention:
Far, dir: Gunnur Martinsdottir Schluter
