Juliette Jouan in Cannes Directors’ Fortnight opener Scarlet Photo: Courtesy of Cannes Directors' Fortnight |
The director was noted for Venice prize-winning Martin Eden.
His new film stars Juliette Jouan, Louis Garrel, Noémie Lvovsky and Raphaël Thierry.
Set In northern France, Juliette grows up alone with her father, Raphaël, a First World War veteran. She spends all her days between music and literature. Once, she meets a witch who reveals to her that some scarlet sails will appear to take her away from the village. The young girl will then never stop believing in the prophecy.
The script has been freely inspired by the tale The Scarlet Sails by Aleksandr Grin, a 20th century Russian pacifist writer.
Marcello's film mixes the conventions of a musical with a historical tale, bordering on magical realism.