There’s elements of intoxicating yet unnerving romance, music, fame, and a disturbing sense of possession in the trailer for Annette, the just-announced Cannes Film Festival opener starring Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard.
The much-anticipated film directed by Leos Carax will open this year’s festival on July 6. The first fully English-spoken film by the Holy Motors director (it’s a been a whole nine years since that film’s release), Annette will feature an original soundtrack from the band Sparks. According to Deadline, the film will roll along entirely in song, and the crew includes executive music producer Marius de Vries (La La Land, Bohemian Rhapsody, Moulin Rouge).
Set in Los Angeles, Annette tells the story of stand-up comedian Henry (Driver) and singer Ann (Cotillard), a glamorous celebrity couple. When their daughter, seemingly named Annette, is born — a “mysterious girl with an exceptional destiny,” — she’ll change their lives, according to the Cannes plot rundown.
The trailer features glimpses of the pair’s different stage careers, plenty of time in the recording studio, Ann giving birth (with some very unwelcome scissors in frame), and Henry riding his motorcycle around town, all set to a cryptic, somewhat possessive voice over from Driver.
Annette will enter the official Cannes Competition after its premiere, and will be simultaneously released in French cinemas — other international release dates are TBC.