Just Cinema Ph © Michele Illuzzi

The third day of the Cannes Film Festival 2025 unfolded with a distinctly European soul, placing a strong spotlight on films from across the continent while maintaining the event’s signature glamour. As stars like Ariana Greenblatt, Andie MacDowell, and Diane Kruger graced the red carpet with elegance and style, the festival’s artistic core leaned toward intimate storytelling and bold cinematic voices.

European cinema took center stage throughout the day’s program. Among the notable premieres was Amrum, directed by German filmmaker Fatih Akin, featuring Diane Kruger in a leading role. The film drew attention for its evocative narrative and strong performances, adding depth to the day’s lineup.

This marks Fatih Akin’s fifth film featured in the official Selection. Eight years after In the Fade (2017), the intense drama led by Diane Kruger, the Turkish-German filmmaker teams up once again with the actress for Amrum. Set on the North Sea island that gives the film its title, the story unfolds in the summer of 1945, where an atmosphere of psychological tension quietly builds.

The official competition delivered gripping tension and layered storytelling, Dossier 137 by Dominik Moll presented a compelling police drama, where a complex investigation becomes intertwined with the personal life of the officer leading the case. Stéphanie, a police officer working for Internal Affairs, is assigned to a case involving a young man severely wounded during a tense and chaotic demonstration in Paris. While she finds no evidence of illegitimate police violence, the case takes a personal turn when she discovers the victim is from her hometown.

Meanwhile, Sirât, the latest work by Oliver Laxe, took a more introspective approach, following a quiet yet powerful journey in search of a missing person set against the rugged landscapes of southern Morocco. A father (Sergi López) and his son arrive at a rave deep in the mountains of southern Morocco. They’re searching for Mar — daughter and sister — who vanished months ago at one of these endless, sleepless parties. Surrounded by electronic music and a raw, unfamiliar sense of freedom, they hand out her photo again and again. Hope is fading but they push through and follow a group of ravers heading to one last party in the desert. As they venture deeper into the burning wilderness, the journey forces them to confront their own limits.

Day three balanced spectacle with substance, blending red carpet brilliance with stories that explored human fragility, resilience, and mystery—hallmarks of Cannes at its most compelling.



Stefania Veneri