Cannes: Jessica Hausner reaches for the Palme d’Or

It was rumored in winter, in April it was a certainty, tomorrow it will become reality: For the second time (after “Little Joe”, 2019) a directorial work by Jessica Hausner made it into the competition at the Cannes Film Festival, which starts today.

The 50-year-old, who was the first woman to teach directing at the Vienna Film Academy, is only an invitation from the glamorous and art-loving cultural event on the Cote d’Azur behind Oscar winner Michael Haneke.

Hausner’s “Club Zero”, an Austrian co-production (with Great Britain, Germany, France, Denmark), is about a teacher who sets dangerous dynamics in motion at an elite school. The main role is given by Hollywood star Mia Wasikowska (“Alice in Wonderland”). Coop99, co-founded by Hausner, served as a production company, for example “Quo vadis, Aida?” and “Toni Erdmann” was responsible.

This year Hausner is one of seven women facing 15 directors in the race for the “Golden Palme”. Cannes has been criticized for years for not creating a fair gender balance. Among Hausner’s competitors are well-known colleagues such as Wes Anderson (“Asteroid City”), Wim Wenders (“Perfect Days”) and Ken Loach (“Old Oak”).

Until the finale (May 27th) Cannes will again become a branch of Hollywood. Martin Scorsese presents his new film with Leonardo DiCaprio (“Killers of the Flower Moon”), Harrison Ford the supposedly last “Indiana Jones” film. Johnny Depp’s first major production “Jeanne du Barry” following his trial of ex-wife Amber Heard opens today. Depp plays Louis XV.