Cannes Film Festival Poster Pays Tribute to Akira Kurosawa's 'Rhapsody in August'

The Cannes Film Festival has unveiled the official poster for its 77th edition, featuring a scene from Akira Kurosawa's 1991 film 'Rhapsody in August'. The poster shows a grandmother, a survivor of the Nagasaki atomic bombing, sharing a message of love and integrity with her grandchildren.

In the scene, the grandmother sits with her four grandchildren, with the festival's palm symbol floating in the sky above them. The film, which was presented at Cannes in 1991, follows the grandmother as she passes on her faith in love and integrity to her grandchildren and American nephew as a safeguard against war and violence.

The festival organizers describe Kurosawa's work as a reminder of "the importance of coming together, and seeking harmony in all things". They state that the poster "celebrates the Seventh Art, with naivety and wonder" and reaffirms the festival's conviction that "cinema is a universal sanctuary for expression and sharing, where our humanity and freedom are written".

Why this matters: The choice of Kurosawa's film for the 2024 Cannes poster aligns with a Japanese theme emerging at the festival, as Cannes will also present an honorary Palme d'Or to the Japanese anime house Studio Ghibli. The poster's message of love and integrity in the face of tragedy resonates with the current geopolitical tensions around the world.

The Cannes Film Festival, one of the world's three major international film festivals, will open with Quentin Dupieux's new comedy Le Deuxième Acte (The Second Act). 

Key Takeaways

• Cannes unveils poster featuring Kurosawa's 1991 film 'Rhapsody in August'.
• Poster depicts a grandmother sharing message of love and integrity with grandchildren.
• Cannes to present honorary Palme d'Or to Japanese anime house Studio Ghibli.
• Poster's message resonates with current geopolitical tensions around the world.
• Cannes Film Festival runs from May 14 to 25, 2024, with 'Le Deuxième Acte' as the opener.