Every year, the Cannes Film Festival rolls around with its usual mix of excitement and letdowns, and the 78th edition was no different.

As always, some films shone brightly while others just didn’t hit the mark.

If you’re a fan of English-language entries chasing the Palme d’Or, this year might have felt a little underwhelming.

Disappointing English-Language Contenders for the Palme d’Or

Let’s be honest: Wes Anderson’s latest, The Phoenician Scheme, didn’t grab me at all. I’d give it just two stars.

And Ari Aster’s Eddington—which tries to satirize pandemic life—also fell flat for me with the same low rating.

Eddington is set in a fictional New Mexico town, where sheriff Joe Cross, played by Joaquin Phoenix, clashes with mayor Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal) over Covid regulations.

Things get messier when you factor in Garcia’s past with Cross’s wife, played by Emma Stone.

The story starts off with some promise but quickly spirals into something quite bizarre and hard to follow.

I wasn’t a fan of Die, My Love either. This one stars Jennifer Lawrence as Grace, a new mom struggling with postpartum depression, which puts huge pressure on her rocky marriage to Jackson (Robert Pattinson).

The problem is, both characters are so unlikeable it’s tough to connect with them or feel any sympathy.

Hidden Gems in the Un Certain Regard Section

Thankfully, the festival wasn’t all gloom.

The secondary competition, known as Un Certain Regard, delivered some real surprises. Several debut directors made a splash here.

Charlie Polinger’s The Plague blew me away.

Set at a boys’ water-polo camp, it’s a sharp, honest look at the tricky politics of adolescence—bullying, peer pressure, and standing out from the crowd. I gave it five stars.

Then there’s Urchin, starring Harris Dickinson as a homeless, self-destructive drug addict played by Frank Dillane.

Despite the dark subject, it’s bursting with raw humanity and I rated it four stars.

Even Scarlett Johansson made her directorial debut here with Eleanor The Great.

It tells the story of an elderly Jewish woman (June Squibb) who pretends to be a Holocaust survivor.

It’s not perfect—maybe three stars—but it’s definitely heartfelt and sweet.

The Standout Film Came from a Seasoned Director

But the film I enjoyed most at Cannes wasn’t a debut—it was from a veteran filmmaker exploring new ground.

Richard Linklater’s Nouvelle Vague takes us behind the scenes of Jean-Luc Godard’s making of Breathless (1960).

Shot in black and white, just like the original, this French-language drama is utterly stylish and a real treat for cinema lovers.

I gave it four stars and found it the perfect blend of classic cool and fresh storytelling.