Boom. Just like that, the Cannes Film Festival dropped a bombshell: Jim Jarmusch's Father Mother Sister Brother—packed with A-listers like Cate Blanchett and Adam Driver—wasn't just excluded from competition. It was completely shut out. No main slate, no sidebars, no nada.
This isn't just surprising—it's unprecedented. Jarmusch is practically Cannes royalty, with eight previous Palme d'Or entries (Ghost Dog, Only Lovers Left Alive). Yet Thierry Frémaux, the festival's gatekeeper, didn't just pass on the film; he left it at the curb like last year's The Dead Don't Die (which, admittedly, was a misfire).
Why the Cold Shoulder?
- The Cast Didn't Matter: Blanchett. Driver. Vicky Krieps. Tom freaking Waits. If this lineup couldn't charm Cannes, something's off.
- The Timing's Suspicious: Last month, Variety called it a “lock.” Now? Radio silence. Did the film underwhelm, or is Cannes pivoting to fresher voices?
- Venice's Gain: Expect a Lido premiere. Venice loves rehabbing Cannes' rejects (Joker, anyone?).
Jarmusch's Unshakable Cool—And Cannes' Risk
Jarmusch's films are mood pieces, not crowd-pleasers. Paterson? A bus driver poet. Only Lovers Left Alive? Vampires who hate groupies. Cannes might be signaling a shift—less nostalgia, more new blood.
Either Father Mother Sister Brother is a mess, or Cannes just made its boldest power play in years. Either way, September just got hotter.
