Last year brought plenty of strong films to the screen, whether dramas, light comedies, or dark comedies that leave you with more questions than smile lines. Cahiers du Cinéma has put together its list of what it sees as the best movies of the year, and we’re here to tell you which ones made the cut. Get ready: there are quite a few titles you’ve probably never heard of.
Content
- Miséricorde
- May December
- Mul-an-e-seo
- The Zone of Interest
- Los delincuentes
- Aku wa sonzai shinai
- This Life of Mine
- Trap
- The Other Way Around
- All We Imagine as Light
Miséricorde
IMDb: 6.8/10
2024, Drama, Comedy
France, Spain, Portugal
Director: Alain Guiraudie
Top Cast: Catherine Frot, Félix Kysyl, Jean-Baptiste Durand
A young man named Jérémy returns to his hometown for the funeral of the former mayor. There he meets the local priest. Both of them share the same suspicion — that the mayor’s death wasn’t natural. They decide to investigate on their own. The deeper they dig into the town’s secrets, the more mysteries and strange coincidences they uncover.
The film is directed by Alain Guiraudie, known for blending elements of erotica, thriller, and drama in his work. Once again, he’s surprised critics with a story full of unexpected turns.
May December
IMDb: 7.0/10
2023, Drama, Black Comedy
USA
Director: Todd Haynes
Top Cast: Natalie Portman, Julianne Moore, Charles Melton
Famous Hollywood actress Elizabeth Berry is preparing for a new role. To fully understand her character, she travels to Georgia to study the life of Gracie Atherton-Yoo and her husband Joe Yoo. Years ago, their story shocked the nation: Gracie, an adult woman, began a relationship with 13-year-old Joe and later married him. As Elizabeth spends more time with them, she starts to notice unsettling parallels between herself and her character, while also uncovering dark secrets the couple has kept hidden.
The film is inspired by the real-life story of Mary Kay Letourneau and her student Vili Fualaau.
Mul-an-e-seo (In water)
IMDb: 6.4/10
2023, Drama
South Korea
Director: Hong Sang-soo
Top Cast: Shin Seok-ho, Ha Seong-guk, Kim Seung-yun
A young director named Seonmo has grown disillusioned with his career and doesn’t expect much from it anymore. Still, he doesn’t give up on the work he once loved. With a few friends, he heads to a small island to make a new film. But he can’t come up with a story, so instead he wanders along the shore, filming whatever catches his eye. During this time, he meets a woman collecting trash on the beach, and the encounter completely shifts his outlook on life.
The film was made by Hong Sang-soo using an iPhone, giving it an intimate, personal feel. In Water is also shot in a 4:3 aspect ratio, which makes it resemble older films.
The Zone of Interest
IMDb: 7.6/10
2023, Drama, History, War
UK, USA, Poland
Director: Jonathan Glazer
Top Cast: Christian Friedel, Sandra Hüller, Freya Kreutzkam
The film follows the daily life of Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss and his wife Hedwig. They work hard to create what they see as the “perfect life” for their family. Their home, complete with a garden, sits right next to the concentration camp where atrocities are taking place. The story highlights the stark contrast between the horror unfolding beyond the wall and the family’s seemingly idyllic existence.
The movie won two Oscars and was nominated for three more. It doesn’t show any scenes of violence directly: its terror comes through sound and suggestion, which makes it even more unsettling.
Los delincuentes (The Delinquents)
IMDb: 7.0/10
2023, Comedy, Crime, Drama
Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Luxembourg
Director: Rodrigo Moreno
Top Cast: Daniel Elías, Esteban Bigliardi, Margarita Molfino
Roman, a bank employee tired of his dull routine, decides to quit everything and rob the bank where he works. He takes just enough money to live comfortably and hides it away. He shares his plan with a colleague, promising half the cut if he keeps quiet. The two of them then set off on a journey that changes their lives completely.
The film is a remake of the 1997 Argentine movie Apenas un delincuente. It was shot in Buenos Aires and runs for over three hours, so it’s best to settle in with plenty of popcorn.
Aku wa sonzai shinai (Evil Does Not Exist)
IMDb: 7.0/10
2023, Drama
Japan
Director: Ryusuke Hamaguchi
Top Cast: Hitoshi Omika, Ryuji Kosaka, Ayaka Shibutani
Two employees from a Tokyo company travel to a small village to present their plan for building a glamping site. The locals, who value nature and peace as part of their way of life, voice concerns that the project could harm the environment.
The film won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival.
This Life of Mine
IMDb: 7.0/10
2024, Comedy, Drama
France
Director: Sophie Fillières
Top Cast: Agnès Jaoui, Philippe Katerine, Valérie Donzelli
A young Parisian woman named Agnès enjoys life but feels a constant sense of dissatisfaction. The familiar no longer excites her, and everything seems repetitive. She begins to feel that she isn’t living the life she’s meant to. So Agnès decides to leave behind her everyday routine and move out of the city in search of her true calling.
This film is the final work of director Sophie Fillières, who passed away after completing it.
Trap
IMDb: 6.4/10
2024, Thriller, Horror
USA
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Top Cast: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Hayley Mills
The main character finally gets to experience the moment he’s been waiting for, attending a concert by his favorite singer. But instead of the joy of singing along and being swept up in the music, he finds himself trapped. A serial killer is in the venue, and now he must fight to stay alive without revealing himself.
The Other Way Around
IMDb: 6.8/10
2024, Comedy, Drama
Spain, France
Director: Jonás Trueba
Top Cast: Itsaso Arana, Vito Sanz, Fernando Trueba
Alex and Marta have lived together for many years, but their relationship has reached a dead end, and they decide to separate. Their families and friends, however, struggle to understand the choice, so the two keep in touch to make things easier for everyone else. Where this will lead is anyone’s guess.
The film is shot as a docudrama, with the characters often speaking directly to the camera.
All We Imagine as Light
IMDb: 7.1/10
2024, Drama, Romance
France, India, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy
Director: Payal Kapadia
Top Cast: Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam
Two Indian nurses, Prabo and Anu, live in Mumbai and struggle with challenges in their personal lives. They decide to take a trip to the coast to rest and find some peace of mind. What they don’t expect is that the journey will completely change how they see life, friendship, and love.
This is the first Indian film in 30 years to be shown at the Cannes Film Festival. Director Payal Kapadia is known for exploring feminism and gender equality in her work. This is a side of Indian cinema many viewers haven’t seen before.
