79th Cannes Opens with La Vénus électrique Premiere

The 79th Cannes Film Festival will open on May 12 with the world premiere of French director Pierre Salvadori's romantic comedy "La Vénus électrique," a period piece set in 1920s Paris that blends deception, romance, and artistic revival.

The film, Salvadori's 11th feature, centers on Antoine Balestro, a celebrated young painter played by Pio Marmaï, who has lost his creative spark and descended into alcoholism following the death of his wife, Irène. In a moment of desperation, Antoine seeks to contact her through a psychic during a drunken evening. Instead, he encounters Suzanne, portrayed by Anaïs Demoustier, a struggling carnival performer who has infiltrated the session to steal food. A skilled impostor, Suzanne, with assistance from Antoine's concerned gallery owner Armand, played by Gilles Lellouche, stages a series of elaborate fake séances. As Antoine gradually rediscovers his inspiration, Suzanne grapples with genuine feelings for the man she has been deceiving. The ensemble cast also includes Vimala Pons as Irène and Gustave Kervern in a supporting role.

Salvadori, known for films such as "Priceless" in 2006 and "The Trouble with You" in 2018, cowrote the screenplay...