after credits: confessions of a Cannes first-timer (+ 11 exclusive film reviews)

Notes on surviving the world's most famous film festival.

Hello hello,

For the first time in That Final Scene history, I ditched London fog for French Riviera sunshine and dove headfirst into the controlled mayhem of the Cannes Film Festival. Six days, eleven films, approximately forty espressos, and one very unfortunate pair of lost sunglasses later, I emerged with stories, opinions, and a slight wine hangover.

I love this photo from my Nikon D5000 camera roll.

For those wondering what I actually watched:

• Enzo (Laurent Cantet)

• Promis le ciel/Promised Sky (Erige Sehiri)

• Sound of Falling (Mascha Schilinski)

• Case 137/Dossier 137 (Dominik Moll)

• Sirât (Oliver Laxe)

• Eddington (Ari Aster)

• Dalloway/The Residence (Yann Gozlan)

• The Chronology of Water (Kristen Stewart)

• Urchin (Harris Dickinson)

• Nouvelle Vague (Richard Linklater)

• Die, My Love (Lynne Ramsey)

So which films left me shaken? Which screening had me contemplating a strategic exit? Did I accidentally stumble into any celebs? The full chronicle of my Cannes adventure – including thoughts on all eleven films – lives behind the paywall this month.

This special edition feels particularly meaningful because it exists entirely thanks to my paid subscribers. Your support literally made it possible for me to afford this trip.

So consider this my thank-you letter to you all.

If you're currently a free subscriber, this is the perfect moment to upgrade. For less than the cost of a movie ticket, you'll unlock not just this Cannes deep-dive but a full year of exclusive film and tv recommendations that dig far deeper than anything you'll find in traditional reviews (the annual subscription is almost 20% cheaper).

Either way, next month we're back to regular programming on After Credits, but for now, I hope you enjoy this Cannes special edition.

With gratitude and slightly sunburned shoulders,

Sophie ♥️

My Cannes outfits because I came prepared hunny.