“La Gradiva” gives French cinema its first Cannes triumph

The top prize at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival was awarded to a young French talent. Wednesday, May 20th, GradivaMarine Atlan's debut feature film, *The Critics' Week Grand Prize*, won the Grand Prize. Presented in this parallel section dedicated to first and second films, the film impressed audiences with its direction and sensitive portrayal of adolescence, according to reviews reported by... Le Monde et USAinformations.

A coming-of-age story set between Naples and Pompeii

The film follows a high school senior class on a trip to Italy. Between Naples and the ruins of Pompeii, Marine Atlan films the desires, doubts, and tensions that run through this group of teenagers. At the heart of the story, a high school student played by Colas Quignard tries to find his place while confronting his own insecurities.

According to Le MondeIn this debut film, the director blends two styles: a naturalistic narrative centered on a school trip and a more romantic dimension focused on the inner turmoil of the main character. The filmmaker, previously known as a cinematographer on films such as Jessica Forever by Caroline Poggi and Jonathan Vinel or The Sunken One Louise Hémon's film is a notable work, remarkable for its visual mastery. Shot largely with non-professional actors, it will be released in theaters on November 4th, distributed by Tandem.

An edition deemed uneven by critics

Chaired this year by Indian director Payal Kapadia, the Critics' Week jury also awarded Viva by Spanish director Aina Clotet, winner of the Louis Roederer Foundation's Revelation Prize. This film follows a woman who survived breast cancer as she tries to rediscover the joy of life.

Despite these distinctions, Le Monde believes that this 65th edition of Critics' Week remained relatively tame in its artistic offerings. The newspaper describes a selection marked by often predictable stories and similar narrative structures. In this context, Gradiva appears as one of the rare works to have truly convinced through its ambitious staging and formal singularity.