Did you know that despite having a career that has spanned four decades, celebrated French filmmaker Claire Denis has only had four of her films ever premiere at the Cannes Film Festival? And it’s been 24 years since Denis had a film debut in competition—1998’s “Chocolat” with Isaach de Bankolé. That finally changes this spring when Denis’ new film, “Stars At Noon” premieres and puts her back in the competition frame.
Based on the 1986 novel by Denis Johnson, “Stars At Noon” is a romantic thriller starring Margaret Qualley, Joe Alwyn, and Danny Ramirez. The film centers on a mysterious English businessman (Alwyn) and an American journalist (Qualley) who strike up a romance and must team up to escape Nicaragua during the 1980s Nicaraguan Revolution.
Not much more is known about the film, except for the fact that Robert Pattinson was originally supposed to star, the pandemic delayed it and Denis was so frustrated she almost gave up on the project. Thankfully, Qualley, desperate to work with Denis and in love with the project, begged her to continue and promised to wait for the production. Late last year the film finally shot in seemingly record time, ready for Cannes less than six months later.
Now, thanks to the Ad Vitam distribution site in France (via Film Stage), we know more details about the film including additional cast members. Ad Vitam reveals that filmmaker/actor Benny Safdie, who most recently appeared in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Licorice Pizza,” is in “Stars at Noon,” as well as John C. Reilly (who also has a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo in the same PTA movie). Also in the movie is Nick Romano, Stephan Proaño, and Monica Bartholomew, but the cast otherwise seems pretty small and contained. Here’s the official synopsis:
A young American journalist stranded in present-day Nicaragua (Margaret Qualley) falls for an enigmatic Englishman (Joe Alwyn) who seems like her best chance of escape. She soon realizes, though, that he may be in even greater danger than she is.
“Stars At Noon” is written by Denis, Léa Mysius, and Andrew Litvack. Léa Mysius is an interesting name as she’s a writer/director and has her own film, “Les Cinq Diables” (“The Five Devils”) starring Adèle Exarchopoulos, playing in the Director’s Fortnight section at Cannes. The Tindersticks, Denis’ constant composers, are back to score the film, and the director of photography is Eric Gautier.
“Stars At Noon” will be the second film of Denis’ that some lucky audiences get to see in 2022. Her next film, “Both Sides Of the Blade” with Juliette Binoche and Vincent Lindon, premieres July 8 via IFC Films. Check out some new “Stars At Noon” images below.
