Cannes Hidden Gem: The Late Laurent Cantet’s ‘Enzo’ Is a “Victory Against Death”

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The movie “Enzo” is not just about a young boy’s unease with his family’s social standing; rather, as revealed by director Robin Campillo to The Hollywood Reporter, it serves as the farewell project of his longtime friend and Cannes Palme d’Or winner Laurent Cantet.

Campillo, who looks after Enzo, notes that the movie is truly a creation of Laurent Cantet, with whom he first collaborated in 1983. “I was involved in its making, but it’s essentially his film,” he says. “I believe it’s a triumph over death that this film has come to life.

The movie script was written by Cantet, focusing on the story of 16-year-old Eloy Pohu who goes against his upper-class family’s wishes by taking up a masonry apprenticeship. Originally, Cantet planned to direct it as well – marking what would have been his 18th film. However, a cancer diagnosis forced him to stop the production process. Sadly, Cantet passed away in April 2024, and Campillo took over the project. “I was going to be involved at every stage of making this movie,” Campillo, director of 2017’s BPM (Beats per Minute), says. “From casting, preparation, shooting – we were concerned that Cantet might tire easily while talking to the camera crew and technicians. So I would have served as an assistant, but a very personal one… I was also going to edit the film with him, but shortly after the casting process, he became ill rapidly and passed away.

Prior to his passing, we held conversations while he was in the hospital, and it was mutually agreed upon with his wife Isabelle and the producer, Marie-Ange Luciani, that we would complete the film as a tribute to him. This decision seemed to deeply move him.

Enzo, as depicted by Campillo, isn’t just a typical story about a moody adolescent; it delves into the immense burdens carried by young individuals in an ever-more tumultuous global environment. As he puts it, “You must decide very swiftly your life’s direction.” He goes on to express that we are living in a challenging time – from Ukraine and Gaza conflicts, to U.S. elections and widespread violence – it’s a complex situation. And yet, we expect young people to have clear goals and identities, but the world itself is far from organized and certain.

In Cantet’s film, Enzo’s romance isn’t with a rebellious son, but rather an unexpected one: he falls for an older Ukrainian man on the construction site he works at. For director Laurent, young people like Enzo have an allure – they are open to various sexual experiences. Enzo’s attraction to Vlad isn’t driven by physical appeal, but rather his desire to escape his family and experience something beyond his bourgeois facade. He yearns to peek behind the scenes of reality. Thus, this love story is deeply connected to Enzo’s determination to confront and understand the true nature of life.

Campillo remarks: “I believe Cannes is an ideal venue for Enzo. The audience will largely consist of Cantet’s friends and colleagues from the film industry. It’s not a somber movie; rather, it radiates light. It will feel like a celebration, and I think it will bring great joy.

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2025-05-18 10:54