The Cannes Film Festival boasts a stunning line-up with a number of remarkable Asian films taking the spotlight
After being cancelled last year due to the pandemic, the prestigious Cannes Film Festival makes a stunning return this year and puts the spotlight on Asian movies. Notable highlights include Apichatpong Weerasethakul who is making his return and Hong Sang-soo, a frequent Cannes presence, who is making his 11th entry into the festival.
Meanwhile, Wei Shujun's movie is finally screening this year after last year's cancellation, Abdullah Mohammad Saad's film makes history as the first Bangladeshi movie to be selected for the festival while China boasts a number of entries this year.
Whether they're screening at Cannes this year or elsewhere, you should put these Asian movies on your watchlist. Read on to find out which movies they are.
1. Memoria, Thailand
Memoria is the first Thai film in 11 years to be part of the Cannes line-up. Helmed by renowned Thai director, Apichatpong Weerasethakul who previously graced the Cannes stage when he won the prestigious Palme d'Or for Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives in 2010.
His latest film is set in Bogota, Colombia and stars Tilda Swinton as Jessica, a woman from Scotland who's travelling around the country. After being startled by a loud sound, she goes out of her way to find where the source came from. Memoria is an international co-production that includes over 10 production companies from Colombia, Thailand, China and more. The film marks the third time Weerasethakul is invited to Cannes after his 2015 film Cemetery of Splendour.
See also: Cannes Film Festival 2021: 9 Palme D'Or-Winning Movies To Watch