As the sun sets on the French Riviera, the world of cinema turns its eyes to the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Tonight, the coveted Palme d’Or, the highest prize awarded at the festival, will be announced. All the Palme d’Or nominees in 2023 have already accomplished something great by appearing in competition, but there can be only one Cannes 2023 Palme d’Or winner. 

The anticipation is palpable as we await the decision of the jury, led by two-time Palme d’Or winner Ruben Östlund. This year’s competition has been fierce, with 21 films vying for the top honour. In this article, we will delve into the top contenders for the Palme d’Or, exploring the strengths and potential weaknesses of each film and why they might be the next to join the illustrious list of winners.

1. Anatomy of a Fall by Justine Triet

Leading the pack is Justine Triet’s Anatomy of a Fall. This gripping mystery, featuring Cannes favourite Sandra Huller, has been lauded for its sophisticated filmmaking and evolving narrative. The film, which centres around a writer who becomes the main suspect in her husband’s murder, has been praised for its innovative storytelling and emotional payoff.

However, its two-and-half-hour length and dialogue-heavy midsection may prove to be a hurdle for some viewers. Despite this, the film’s confident technique and accessible storytelling make it a strong contender for the Palme d’Or.

Critics have praised Anatomy of a Fall for its ability to leverage sophisticated filmmaking trickery into an engaging narrative. Triet’s status as a rising filmmaker, combined with her ability to create a film that is both technically impressive and emotionally resonant, could potentially sway the jury in her favour. However, the film’s length and dialogue-heavy midsection could be a potential stumbling block.

2. The Zone of Interest by Jonathan Glazer

Jonathan Glazer’s first film since Under the Skin provides a tense and riveting look at an Auschwitz commander and his wife through the lens of their domestic life. Critics have praised the film for its daring approach, and it is considered a serious contender for the Palme d’Or. However, some members of the jury may find the film’s tone too cold, which could potentially hinder its chances.

The Zone of Interest has been lauded for its unique perspective on a dark period in history. The film’s ability to provide a fresh take on a well-trodden subject matter could potentially sway the jury in its favour. The Zone of Interest could easily win the award.

3. Fallen Leaves by Aki Kaurismaki

Finnish director Aki Kaurismaki‘s Fallen Leaves is a sweet, typically-deadpan story with topical undercurrents. The film, which stars Alma Poysti as a supermarket clerk who finds comfort in a hard-drinking construction worker, has been praised for its charm and depth. However, it should be noted that the film’s similarities with other Kaurismaki films might hinder its chances of winning the Palme d’Or.

Fallen Leaves is a testament to Kaurismaki’s filmmaking appeal. The film’s poignant focus and poetic visuals may impress the jury, but its understated narrative may make it difficult for the film to stand out in a competitive field.

4. Perfect Days by Wim Wenders

Wim Wenders‘ Perfect Days is a sensitive character study featuring legendary Japanese actor Koji Yakusho. The film, which is largely dialogue-free, follows an ageing toilet cleaner in Tokyo. Despite its low-key narrative, the film’s poignant focus and Yakusho’s subtle performance have been praised. However, the understated nature of the narrative may make it more of a Best Actor contender than a frontrunner for the Palme.

Perfect Days showcases Wenders’ ability to create a deeply emotional narrative with minimal dialogue. Yakusho’s performance is a testament to his acting prowess, and his portrayal is likely to resonate with the jury. However, the film’s low-key narrative may not leave as strong an impression as other contenders.

5. La Chimera by Alice Rohrwacher

Italian auteur Alice Rohrwacher’s La Chimera is an absorbing, quasi-supernatural story of a tomb raider whose obsession with ancient artefacts provides some measure of catharsis for his lost love. Like all of Rohrwacher’s work, the movie is a slow, dreamlike immersion into its character’s predicament, but it builds to one of her best emotional finales. It stands a good shot at winning something, though some jurors may be more into Rohrwacher’s specific tonal choices than others.

La Chimera is a testament to Rohrwacher’s unique filmmaking style. The film’s slow, dreamlike narrative and emotional finale could potentially resonate with the jury. However, Rohrwacher’s specific tonal choices may not appeal to the diverse members of the jury, which could impact the film’s chances of winning the Palme d’Or.

6. The Old Oak by Ken Loach

At 86, Ken Loach is back at Cannes for a shot at his third Palme d’Or with The Old Oak. This film tells a bleeding-heart story about a pub owner who tries to protect a Syrian immigrant from xenophobic locals. Loach’s steady hand and his ability to tell socially-conscious stories could impress the jury, but the film’s familiarity might be a hurdle for it to overcome.

The Old Oak is a testament to Loach’s ability to tell stories that are both socially relevant and emotionally resonant. His portrayal of the struggles faced by immigrants and the people who stand up for them could resonate with the jury. However, Loach plays with ideas that he has played with before, which may make the movie feel too familiar for some members of the jury.

7. About Dry Grasses by Nuri Bilge Ceylan

Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan, a previous Palme d’Or winner for Winter Sleep, returns with About Dry Grasses. This engrossing but slow-moving film looks at a disgruntled high school teacher who runs into a problem with one of his admiring students. While the film will satisfy plenty of Ceylan fans thanks to its thoughtful investigation of its nihilistic character’s worldview, it might be hard for the jury to converge on this particular cinematic challenge with other strong options.

About Dry Grasses showcases Ceylan’s ability to create darkly funny character studies that are both languid and engaging. His exploration of the teacher’s worldview could potentially resonate with the jury. However, the film’s slow pace and the fact that it might be an acquired taste could potentially impact its chances of winning the Palme d’Or. Of course, this hasn’t hindered Ceylan’s previous efforts. 

8. Monster by Hirokazu Kore-eda

Shoplifters director Hirokazu Kore-eda returns with Monster, a sentimental look at a young child who may or may not be a victim of bullying. As his single mother attempts to get to the bottom of that, the movie adopts a Rashomon perspective that gets deeper as it goes along. Kore-eda’s subtle approach may be almost too understated for some, but his filmmaking confidence and the emotional clarity of his ideas are undeniable.

Monster is a testament to Kore-eda’s ability to tell stories that are both emotionally resonant and subtly complex. His exploration of the child’s potential victimhood and the mother’s struggle to understand it could potentially resonate with the jury. 

9. May December by Todd Haynes

Todd Haynes‘ May December is his fifth film at Cannes and is his most outwardly entertaining. This campy drama features Julianne Moore as a woman years after her tabloid romance with her seventh-grade student and Natalie Portman as the actress trailing her for a role. The movie develops an intriguing love triangle around the Moore character’s now-grown love interest as Portman infiltrates their dynamic. 

May December has received warm reviews and is a hot sales title. Its playful air could sway the jury towards fun options over stodgier ones. Even if it doesn’t get that far, either actress could take home a prize. The film’s unique narrative and strong performances from Moore and Portman could potentially resonate with the jury.

2023 Cannes Film Festival Awards

As we await the announcement of this year’s Palme d’Or winner, it’s important to remember that every film in competition has already achieved a significant feat by being selected for the festival. 

The Cannes Film Festival is a celebration of cinema, and each film, regardless of whether it wins the Palme d’Or, contributes to the rich tapestry of global cinema. Past winners of the Palme d’Or, from Parasite to Marty, have gone on to achieve great success, demonstrating the impact and prestige of this award.