On Tuesday 12 May, to launch the 79th Festival de Cannes, French director and screenwriter Pierre Salvadori’s new film La Vénus électrique will premiere at the Grand Théâtre Lumière, following the opening ceremony hosted by actress Eye Haïdara.
At the same time, the film will also be screened in movie theatres across France, offering audiences a chance to “gather in harmony around this delightfully burlesque romantic comedy”.
“Cannes celebrates everything I love about cinema,” Salvadori said. “Direction, boldness, freedom, and filmmakers. Cannes discovers them, supports them, and celebrates them.
“In its own way, my film embodies all the faith and love I have for my craft. I am so proud and happy that it’s kicking off the festival!”
Festival de Cannes added: “A leading figure of highly acclaimed French comedies, Salvadori presents his 11th feature film in 34 years. He brings together the stars of contemporary French cinema and sets his period fable, a first in his filmography, against the backdrop of the bustling Paris of the early 20th century.
“His recurring themes remain ever-present, however: lies, ambiguity, and pretense. The imaginings of the Roaring Twenties, marked by artistic effervescence, popular entertainment, and spiritualism, permeate this film, which remains faithful to the poetic cinema of Pierre Salvadori, who blends narrative freedom, melancholy and humour like no other.
“Drawing inspiration from sophisticated Hollywood comedy, with its brisk pace, confusion between lies and truth, and precision in writing and direction, this fervent admirer of Ernst Lubitsch, Billy Wilder and Blake Edwards creates unique, novelistic worlds rooted in a social reality that explores human relationships and the vulnerabilities of battered characters on their difficult quest for happiness.”
La Vénus électrique follows Leave One Day, Amélie Bonnin’s first feature film, which opened the 78th Festival de Cannes.
