This year’s Cannes Film Festival gave us many critically acclaimed films, but only one could take Palme d’Or home. This award went into the hands of Justine Triet, who wrote her name in history books and became the third woman to win the festival’s big prize with Anatomy of a Fall.
Anatomy of a Fall stars Sandra Hüller, who delivered one of the festival’s best performances as a German writer entangled in a gripping murder trial. Following the mysterious death of her husband at their secluded chalet in the Alps, she finds herself facing murder charges and struggling to prove her innocence.
Jane Fonda, who presented Palme d’Or to Triet, reflected on the major cultural shift that the festival went through since her first appearance at the festival in 1963.
“There were no women directors competing at that time and it never occurred to us there was something wrong with that… We have progressed, but we have a long way to go. We have to celebrate change when it happens,” said Fonda.
Seven female directors were competing in Palme d’Or this year, and Justine Triet made history as the third woman to collect this prize, following in the footsteps of Jane Campion and Julia Ducournau, who served as the member of the jury led by the Swedish director Ruben Östlund.
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
