Survey journalists during the early days of the Cannes Film Festival often express some dissatisfaction with the initial lineup of films. While it may seem ungrateful to complain in such a glamorous setting, it has become a tradition for critics to question how long it will take for a strong contender for the prestigious Palme d’Or to emerge.
Cannes, which commenced on Tuesday, distinguishes itself from other major film festivals by not showcasing its highest-profile titles at the start. Instead, significant films are released daily over the two-week period, with the winner of the Palme often not debuting until the latter part of the festival.
This year, however, an early frontrunner has appeared. Directed by Mascha Schilinski, “Sound of Falling” chronicles the lives of four girls on a German farm over the span of a century. The film traverses various time periods, from the prewar era to modern times, as these young women face similar challenges, including budding sexual curiosity and severe social repression.
“Sound of Falling” is noted for its artistic style and length, qualities that Cannes juries typically favor. Many early reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, with critics praising the film's ambition and execution. It has been described as “transfixing” by one outlet, “astonishingly poised and ambitious” by another, and as setting “a high-water mark that will be hard for another feature to reach” by yet another.
Despite the acclaim, the reception following the film’s premiere was mixed. One critic noted that he found the film to be “pretty vacuous.” Additionally, the popular Screen International grid, which aggregates scores from various critics on a scale of one to four, assigned “Sound of Falling” an average score of 2.8. This score, while respectable, falls short of last year’s Palme winner, “Anora,” which scored 3.3, and the previous victor, “Anatomy of a Fall,” which earned 3.0.
The question remains: can passion prevail over consensus? Time will tell.