Overview

• ‘Eleanor the Great’ premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival on May 20, receiving a six-minute standing ovation from the audience.
• Directed by Scarlett Johansson in her feature debut, the film stars 95-year-old June Squibb as Eleanor, a grieving widow whose actions spark moral and emotional conflicts.
• The screenplay, written by first-time feature writer Tory Kamen, examines themes of grief, friendship, and forgiveness through the lens of intergenerational relationships.
• Authenticity is a key element, with actual Holocaust survivors cast in supporting roles, enhancing the emotional weight of the story.
• Sony Pictures Classics is preparing a wider theatrical release, with early Oscar buzz surrounding June Squibb’s performance and Johansson’s directorial achievement.