340 – Titane (Festival Fever!)

This Had Oscar Buzz

We’re kicking off this year’s May Miniseries this week! Introducing: Festival Fever!! We’re spending all month discussing the ethos around some of the most important film festivals–and if you subscribe to our Patreon, the mini has already begun! After the COVID year shut down the Cannes Film Festival for the first time in decades, 2021 rebounded with a robust edition. The Palme d’Or winner was a controversial pick: Julia Ducournau’s sophomore thriller Titane. The film garnered headlines for its audacious, no-holds-barred look at gender, parent-child relationships, and umm a serial killer who gets impregnated by a car.

This episode, we talk about the history of the Palme d’Or and the film’s unsuccessful placement as France’s International Feature submission. We also talk about our anticipation for Ducournau’s upcoming Cannes return with Alpha, Spike Lee accidentally spoiling the film’s win at Cannes, and queer reactions to the film.

Topics also include dancing firemen, Ducournau’s debut Raw, and our favorite Palme winners.