Michel Hazanavicius' ‘Precious Cargoes' Added to Cannes Competition — First Animated Film to Compete for Palme d'Or Since 2008

UPDATE: Another film added to the competition, and it’s a total under-the-radar surprise. Romanian director Emanuel Pârvu will make his Competition debut with third feature, “Three Miles to the End of the World”, about a gay teenager trapped in village where he is ostracized by everyone around him.

Oliver Stone will also bring his “Lula” documentary, out of competition, to Cannes. The film follows the Brazilian president’s imprisonment in 2018 and 2019 and then his return to power. Stone was last on the Croisette in 2021 for his JFK doc.

Some of the names I had mentioned before are also officially part of the lineup — Desplechin, Lou, Sallette and Palud. Notably absent is Abdellatif Kechiche … Look for Godard’s “Scenarios” to potentially get added to the Cannes Classics sidebar.

EARLIER: As I had reported last week, an animated film has been added to the Cannes competition lineup, Michel Hazanavicius’ “The Most Precious of Cargoes".” This is the fourth time the French filmmaker turns up in competition after 2011’s “The Artist,” 2014’s “The Search” and 2017’s “Redoubtable.”

There hasn’t been an animated film in Cannes competition in over 15 years, more precisely, since 2008’s “Waltz With Bashir,” and 2007’s “Persepolis” before that. Cannes rarely programs animation, so this is a big deal.

Hazanavicius’ film, scored by Alexandre Desplat, is set in World War II as a French Jewish family is deported to Auschwitz. On the train to the death camp, in a desperate gesture, the father throws one of his twins out into the snow, where he's discovered by a childless Polish couple.

Also added to Competition, and vying for the Palme d’Or, is Mohammad Rasoulof’s “The Seed of the Sacred Fig.” I thought Rasoulof was under house arrest in Iran, for committing the sin of “thought crime,” but it sounds like he secretly shot this one in his own home. Rasoulof won the Golden Bear in 2020 for “There is No Evil”. The plot for his latest film is under wraps.

Rasoulof has been the target of the Islamic Republic government in Iran, which barred him from traveling to Cannes last year where was invited to serve on the jury. He also had his passport confiscated by Iranian authorities.

So, these additions makes it 21 films in competition this year. Another one might get added later today, or tomorrow. There will be, at least, half a dozen more additions in the next 48 hours. This is what I’ve been hearing, so far …

Arnaud Desplechin’s “Spectateurs” is, apparently, going to be added as a “special screening.” A new Godard — “Scenarios” — will sneak in there somewhere. Meanwhile, Céline Sallette’s “Niki” could very well show up as the Un Certain Regard opener. Jessica Palud’s “Maria” is being fit into the Cannes Premiere section. Lou Ye’s COVID doc, “Two or Three Times,” is now aiming for an out of competition slot. Meanwhile, Teodora Ana Mihai, who premiered her 2021 debut film “La Civil” in Un Certain Regard, might have her second feature, titled “Reostat,” crack Un Certain Regard or competition. It’s made a real impression on the selection committee.