The Most Precious of Cargoes (film)

{{Infobox film

| name = The Most Precious of Cargoes

| image = La plus précieuse des marchandises.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| native_name = {{Infobox name module|fr|La Plus Précieuse des marchandises}}

| director = Michel Hazanavicius

| screenplay = Michel Hazanavicius
Jean-Claude Grumberg

| based_on = {{Based on|The Most Precious of Cargoes|Jean-Claude Grumberg}}

| producer = {{Plainlist|

Patrick Sobelman
Florence Gastaud
Michel Hazanavicius

}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| narrator = Jean-Louis Trintignant

| editing = {{Plainlist|

Michel Hazanavicius
Laurent Pelé
Arnau Segarra

}}

| music = Alexandre Desplat

| studio = {{Plainlist|

Ex Nihilo
Les Compagnons du Cinema
Studiocanal
France 3 Cinéma
Les Films du Fleuve
RTBF (Télévision Belge)
VOO
BE TV

}}

| distributor = StudioCanal

| released = {{Film date|2024|05|24|Cannes|2024|11|20|France|df=y}}

| runtime = 81 minutes

| country = {{Plainlist|

France
Belgium

}}

| language = French

| budget =

| gross = $4.3 million{{cite Box Office Mojo|id=10462154|title=The Most Precious of Cargoes (2024)|access-date=3 March 2025|publisher_hide=yes}}

}}

The Most Precious of Cargoes ({{langx|fr|La Plus Précieuse des marchandises}}) is a 2024 animated drama film, directed by Michel Hazanavicius and with a screenplay by Jean-Claude Grumberg and Hazanavicius.{{Cite web |last=Keslassy |first=Elsa |date=22 April 2024 |title=Cannes Film Festival Adds Michel Hazanavicius, Mohammad Rasoulof Movies to Competition Lineup (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/global/cannes-film-festival-michel-hazanavicius-mohammad-rasoulof-competition-lineup-1235977837/ |access-date=27 April 2024 |website=Variety |language=en-US}} The film is an adaptation of Grumberg's 2019 novel of the same name.

The film was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, where it premiered on 24 May 2024.{{Cite web |date=19 August 2019 |title=Michel Hazanavicius' 'Precious Cargoes' Added to Cannes Competition — First Animated Film to Compete for Palme d'Or Since 2008 |url=https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2024/4/22/michel-hazanavicius-precious-cargoes-added-to-cannes-competition-first-animated-film-to-compete-for-palme-dor-since-2008 |access-date=27 April 2024 |website=World of Reel |language=en-US}}

Plot

The story centers on a Holocaust-surviving Jewish girl whose father throws her from a moving train heading to Auschwitz and ultimately found by a woodcutter and his family.

Cast

Jean-Louis Trintignant as the narrator
Grégory Gadebois as Woodcutter
Denis Podalydès as The Man with the Broken Face
Dominique Blanc as The Wife

Production

Hazanavicius boarded the project in 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic brought it to a halt, allowing him to shoot the 2022 zombie-comedy film Final Cut in the interim.{{Cite web |last=Pedersen |first=Lise |date=18 June 2022 |title='The Artist' Director Michel Hazanavicius Unveils Debut Animation Film in Annecy |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/global/michel-hazanavicius-most-precious-of-cargos-1235297816/ |access-date=27 April 2024 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

Initially announced for the voice of the Woodcutter, Gérard Depardieu was finally removed from the cast, by mutual agreement between the production and the actor, following the actor's accusations of rape and sexual assault.{{cite web |access-date=28 January 2024 |date=2 October 2023 |title=Accusé de viols et d'agressions sexuelles, Depardieu ne sera pas à l'affiche du prochain film d'Hazanavicius - L'Humanité |url=https://www.humanite.fr/culture-et-savoir/metoo/accuse-de-viols-et-dagressions-sexuelles-depardieu-ne-sera-pas-a-laffiche-du-prochain-film-dhazanavicius |newspaper=L'Humanité |language=fr}} He was replaced by Grégory Gadebois.

The film features narration from Jean-Louis Trintignant in what would ultimately be his final film role, with said narration being recorded prior to his death in 2022.{{Cite web |date=17 June 2022 |title= Jean-Louis Trintignant, French Star With a Gift for Introspection, Dies at 91 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/jean-louis-trintignant-dead-french-actor-1235167693 |access-date=30 April 2024 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=18 June 2022 |title= 'The Artist' Director Michel Hazanavicius Unveils Debut Animation Film in Annecy | url=https://variety.com/2022/film/global/michel-hazanavicius-most-precious-of-cargos-1235297816/ |access-date=30 April 2024 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

Release

The film was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, where it had its world premiere on 24 May 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.festival-cannes.com/en/2024/the-screenings-guide-of-the-77th-festival-de-cannes/|title=The Screenings Guide of the 77th Festival de Cannes|date=8 May 2024|website=Festival de Cannes|access-date=8 May 2024}} It was the first animated feature to be screened in the main competition at Cannes since Ari Folman's Waltz with Bashir in 2008.{{Cite web |last=Keslassy |first=Elsa |date=19 May 2024 |title=Michel Hazanavicius on His Cannes Competition Film 'The Most Precious of Cargoes': 'It's About People Who Saved Lives' (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/global/michel-hazanavicius-cannes-competition-animated-film-the-most-precious-of-cargoes-1236009671/ |website=Variety |access-date=2 October 2024}} It was also served as the opening film for the 2024 Annecy International Animation Film Festival.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/annecy-film-festival-lineup-2024-despicable-me-4-1235880233/|title=Michel Hazanavicius' Animated Holocaust Tale 'The Most Precious of Cargoes' to Open Annecy Film Festival|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Scott|last=Roxborough|date=25 April 2024|access-date=22 May 2024}} It was released in France on 20 November 2024 by distributor StudioCanal.{{cite magazine|last=Weichert|first=David|date=30 January 2024|title=Studiocanal étoffe son line-up|url=https://www.boxofficepro.fr/studiocanal-etoffe-son-line-up/|magazine=Boxoffice Pro|language=fr|access-date=31 August 2024}}

Reception

=Critical response=

{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|50|6.3|12||ref=yes|access-date=29 September 2024}}

{{Metacritic film prose|57|4|ref=yes|access-date=1 June 2024}} On AlloCiné, the film received an average rating of 4.0 out of 5, based on 42 reviews from French critics.{{Cite web |url=https://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm-274858/critiques/presse/ |title=Critiques Presse pour le film La Plus Précieuse Des Marchandises |language=fr |access-date=23 November 2024 |publisher=AlloCiné}}

=Accolades=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" ! scope="col" \| Award ! scope="col" \| Date of ceremony ! scope="col" \| Category ! scope="col" \| Recipient(s) ! scope="col" \| Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| {{Ref heading}}
scope="row" \| Annecy International Animation Film Festival \| 15 June 2024 \| Cristal for Best Feature Film \| rowspan="2" \| Michel Hazanavicius \| {{nom}} \| align="center" \| {{cite web\|url=https://deadline.com/2024/04/annecy-international-animation-film-festival-2024-line-up-1235895163/\|title=Sarah Snook Picture 'Memoir Of A Snail', Terry Gilliam Set For Annecy With 'Transformers One', 'Despicable Me 4′,'Inside Out 2' & 'Moana 2' – Full Lineup\|website=Deadline\|first=Melanie\|last=Goodfellow\|date=25 April 2024\|access-date=22 May 2024}}
scope="row" \| Cannes Film Festival \| 25 May 2024 \| Palme d'Or \| {{nom}} \| align="center" \| {{cite web\|url=https://deadline.com/2024/04/oliver-stone-lou-ye-new-titles-cannes-2024-official-selection-1235891537/\|title=Oliver Stone, Lou Ye, Michel Hazanavicius Films & 'The Count Of Monte Cristo' Among New Titles Added To Cannes 2024 Official Selection\|last=Goodfellow\|first=Melanie\|date=22 April 2024\|website=Deadline\|access-date=9 May 2024}}
rowspan="3" scope="row" \| César Awards \| rowspan="3" \| 28 February 2025 \| Best Adaptation \| Michel Hazanavicius and Jean-Claude Grumberg \| {{nom}} \| align="center" rowspan="3" \| {{cite magazine \|last=Roxborough \|first=Scott \|date=28 February 2025 \|title='Emilia Pérez' Wins Best Film at France's César Awards \|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/france-2025-cesar-awards-winners-emilia-perez-best-film-1236150302/ \|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter \|access-date=1 March 2025}}
Best Original Music \| Alexandre Desplat \| {{nom}}
Best Animated Feature Film \| Florence Gastaud, Michel Hazanavicius and Patrick Sobelman \| {{nom}}
scope="row" \| Lumière Awards \| 20 January 2025 \| Best Animated Film \| rowspan="4" \| Michel Hazanavicius \| {{nom}} \| align="center" \| {{Cite web \|last=Goodfellow \|first=Melanie \|date=12 December 2024 \|title='Emilia Pérez' Leads Nominations For French Lumière Awards \|url=https://deadline.com/2024/12/france-lumiere-awards-nominations-2024-1236201629/ \|access-date=12 December 2024 \|website=Deadline \|language=en-US}}
scope="row"\| Magritte Awards \| 22 February 2025 \| Best Foreign Film \| {{won}} \| align="center"\| {{cite web \|last1=Engelen \|first1=Aurore \|title=Night Call scores a landslide victory at the Magritte Awards \|url=https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/474240/ \|website=Cineuropa \|access-date=27 February 2025 \|date=24 February 2025}}
rowspan="2" scope="row" \| Valladolid International Film Festival \| rowspan="2" \| 26 October 2024 \| Golden Spike \| {{nom}} \| align="center" \| {{Cite web\|url=https://www.elespanol.com/castilla-y-leon/region/valladolid/20240911/valladolid-prepara-edicion-iconica-seminci-novedades-alemania-pais-invitado/885161753_0.html\|website=Castilla y León\|via=El Español\|first=Olaia\|last=Santisteban\|date=11 September 2024\|title=Valladolid se prepara para una edición "icónica" de la Seminci con novedades y Alemania como país invitado}}
Seminci Joven Award \| {{nom}} \| align="center" \|

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

! scope="col" | Award

! scope="col" | Date of ceremony

! scope="col" | Category

! scope="col" | Recipient(s)

! scope="col" | Result

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Ref heading}}

scope="row" | Annecy International Animation Film Festival

| 15 June 2024

| Cristal for Best Feature Film

| rowspan="2" | Michel Hazanavicius

| {{nom}}

| align="center" | {{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/04/annecy-international-animation-film-festival-2024-line-up-1235895163/|title=Sarah Snook Picture 'Memoir Of A Snail', Terry Gilliam Set For Annecy With 'Transformers One', 'Despicable Me 4′,'Inside Out 2' & 'Moana 2' – Full Lineup|website=Deadline|first=Melanie|last=Goodfellow|date=25 April 2024|access-date=22 May 2024}}

scope="row" | Cannes Film Festival

| 25 May 2024

| Palme d'Or

| {{nom}}

| align="center" | {{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/04/oliver-stone-lou-ye-new-titles-cannes-2024-official-selection-1235891537/|title=Oliver Stone, Lou Ye, Michel Hazanavicius Films & 'The Count Of Monte Cristo' Among New Titles Added To Cannes 2024 Official Selection|last=Goodfellow|first=Melanie|date=22 April 2024|website=Deadline|access-date=9 May 2024}}

rowspan="3" scope="row" | César Awards

| rowspan="3" | 28 February 2025

| Best Adaptation

| Michel Hazanavicius and Jean-Claude Grumberg

| {{nom}}

| align="center" rowspan="3" | {{cite magazine |last=Roxborough |first=Scott |date=28 February 2025 |title='Emilia Pérez' Wins Best Film at France's César Awards |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/france-2025-cesar-awards-winners-emilia-perez-best-film-1236150302/ |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=1 March 2025}}

Best Original Music

| Alexandre Desplat

| {{nom}}

Best Animated Feature Film

| Florence Gastaud, Michel Hazanavicius and Patrick Sobelman

| {{nom}}

scope="row" | Lumière Awards

| 20 January 2025

| Best Animated Film

| rowspan="4" | Michel Hazanavicius

| {{nom}}

| align="center" | {{Cite web |last=Goodfellow |first=Melanie |date=12 December 2024 |title='Emilia Pérez' Leads Nominations For French Lumière Awards |url=https://deadline.com/2024/12/france-lumiere-awards-nominations-2024-1236201629/ |access-date=12 December 2024 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}

scope="row"| Magritte Awards

| 22 February 2025

| Best Foreign Film

| {{won}}

| align="center"| {{cite web |last1=Engelen |first1=Aurore |title=Night Call scores a landslide victory at the Magritte Awards |url=https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/474240/ |website=Cineuropa |access-date=27 February 2025 |date=24 February 2025}}

rowspan="2" scope="row" | Valladolid International Film Festival

| rowspan="2" | 26 October 2024

| Golden Spike

| {{nom}}

| align="center" | {{Cite web|url=https://www.elespanol.com/castilla-y-leon/region/valladolid/20240911/valladolid-prepara-edicion-iconica-seminci-novedades-alemania-pais-invitado/885161753_0.html|website=Castilla y León|via=El Español|first=Olaia|last=Santisteban|date=11 September 2024|title=Valladolid se prepara para una edición "icónica" de la Seminci con novedades y Alemania como país invitado}}

Seminci Joven Award

| {{nom}}

| align="center" |