The Most Precious of Cargoes

Adapted from the novella by author and screenwriter Jean-Claude Grumberg, The Most Precious of Cargoes lends itself elegantly to the screen—unsurprising, given Grumberg’s past collaboration with François Truffaut on The Last Metro.  Drawing on deeply personal source material— Grumberg’s father was murdered in the Holocaust— the artistic approach to this story of a child abandoned in a gloomy European forest takes on a fairytale quality. Playing with our perceptions about stories themselves and where fact and fiction intermingle, Hazanavicius utilizes the juxtaposition of child-like wonder and the depths of human darkness. The result is a tale that runs parallel to history, and delivers in this moment a resounding condemnation of fascism. Academy Award-winning director Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist) brings his cinematic mastery to the form of animation for the first time with this harrowing yet heartening Holocaust story. The film premiered in competition in the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, the first animated film to do so since Ari Folman’s Waltz with Bashir in 2008. —Ash Hoyle

Michel Hazanavicius is a French filmmaker best known for directing The Artist (2011), a silent black-and-white film that earned him international acclaim. Hazanavicius began his career in television and comedy, eventually transitioning into film. He gained recognition with the spy parody OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies (2006) and its sequel, both starring Jean Dujardin. His breakthrough came with The Artist, which won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, making Hazanavicius one of the few French directors to win the Oscar. His work often blends homage and satire, showcasing a deep love for cinema history. He has continued to explore a variety of genres, including war dramas like The Search (2014) and comedies like Final Cut (2022). Hazanavicius is also noted for his collaborations with actress Bérénice Bejo, his longtime partner.