THE WONDERS (LE MERAVIGLIE) New Auteurs

Debuting in competition at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, THE WONDERS tells the story of a close-knit family in the rolling Italian countryside. Domineering father Wolfgang tries to control his many daughters, keeping them away from outside influences as they live a cloistered life on their small bee-keeping farm. When a national television competition comes along seeking to highlight local families, eldest daughter Gelsomina wants to enter their family’s beloved honey in the competition. Wolfgang flatly refuses – but the luminous young woman is wise beyond her years, and in standing up for herself she learns how to navigate the world. With indelible images and unforgettable performances, Rohrwacher has created a mesmerizing and hypnotic ballad of independence and self-determination.