Anatomy of a Fall wins Palme d’Or at Cannes 2023

French director Justine Triet’s “Anatomy of a Fall” took home the prestigious Palme d’Or at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. This marks the third time a film directed by a woman has won the top honor, with the previous winners being Julie Ducournau (Titane, 2021) and Jane Campion (The piano lesson, 1993).

The winning film is a drama that delves into the death of a man and the subsequent investigation into whether it was a crime, suicide, or accident, while also questioning the institution of marriage.  

The award was presented to Triet by Jane Fonda after the announcement by the president of the official jury, Swedish filmmaker Ruben Östlund. The jury included notable figures such as Julie Ducournau, Maryam Touzani, Denis Ménochet, Rungano Nyoni, Brie Larson, Atiq Rahimi, Paul Dano, and Damián Szifrón.

Runner-ups and additional awards

Finnish director Aki Kaurismaki’s “Fallen Leaves” received the Jury Prize, while Vietnamese filmmaker Tran Anh Hung won Best Director for the French film “The Pot Au Feu (La passion de Dodin Bouffant)”.

In the acting category, Koji Yakushio won Best Actor for his performance in “Perfect Days”, directed by German filmmaker Wim Wenders, while Turkish actress Merve Dizdar won Best Actress for her role in “About Dry Grasses”, directed by fellow countryman Nuri Bilge Ceylan.

In the parallel section Un Certain Regard (A Certain Look), the Chilean-Argentinian co-production “Los colonos”, directed by Felipe Gálvez, won the Fipresci international critics award.

Surprises and snubs at Cannes 2023

Many were surprised when the Palme d’Or went to “Anatomy of a Fall” instead of the heavily favored “Auschwitz Commander”, directed by British filmmaker Jonathan Glazer. The latter film delves into the life of the commander of the Nazi extermination camp Auschwitz.

Regardless, Glazer did take home an award, receiving recognition from Quentin Tarantino and producer/director Roger Corman, for his outstanding contribution to the world of cinema.

While there were certainly some favorites and surprises at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, one thing remains certain – the Palme d’Or continues to serve as a beacon of excellence in the world of cinema, shining a light on the best and brightest filmmakers from all around the globe.