Must-See July 9 Movies: Superman, Marius and the Guardians, I Love Peru with Raphaël Quenard!

Superman by James Gunn

Starring David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, Nathan Fillion…

What’s it about? Superman finds himself embroiled in conflicts around the globe, and his actions on behalf of humanity begin to raise suspicions. Sensing his vulnerability, the tech billionaire and master manipulator Lex Luthor sees an opportunity to eliminate Superman once and for all.

Did you know? This Superman film represents a fresh start for the Man of Steel as it launches “Gods and Monsters,” the first chapter of the new DC universe overseen by James Gunn. Unlike previous film and TV adaptations, this movie does not focus on the superhero’s origin story.

I Love Peru by Raphaël Quenard, Hugo David

Featuring Raphaël Quenard, Hugo David, Anaïde Rozam…

What’s it about? A quirky actor on a frantic quest for success abandons his most loyal allies. Alone and introspective, a startling vision compels him to head to Peru for a spiritual journey.

Did you know? The scene featuring the shaman in Lima is genuine; he is a recognized shaman who trains others in Lima. Raphaël Quenard admitted to attending “somewhat shamefully,” having concocted a story about visions of a condor, but the experience was very real.

Marius and the Guardians of the Phocaean City by Tony Datis

With Soprano, Nordine Salhi, Walid Ben Amar…

What’s it about? Self-declared “King of Marseille,” Marius is a colorful tour guide who takes his clients around in his panoramic bus. When his vehicle breaks down, jeopardizing his small business, he meets three local kids who believe they’re on the trail of a treasure, thrusting Marius into a perilous adventure.

Did you know? Director Tony Datis initially gained recognition directing music videos for artists like Katy Perry and Zaz before making his first feature film, Le Manoir, in 2017. Marius and the Guardians of the Phocaean City is his second film.

Buffalo Kids by Juan Jesús García Galocha, Pedro Solis García

Featuring Aaricia Dubois, Alisha Weir, Arthur Dubois…

What’s it about? In the early 20th century, two Irish orphans, Mary and Tom, travel across the United States in search of their uncle. Along the way, they encounter both villains and heroes.

Did you know? Jordi Gasull, the producer and scriptwriter for Buffalo Kids, traveled the same route by car as his characters. During his journey, he visited the birthplaces of significant figures in film history, such as John Wayne and Walt Disney.

Valensole 1965 by Dominique Filhol

Starring Matthias Van Khache, Vahina Giocante, Olivia Gotanegre…

What’s it about? In Valensole, Provence, during the summer of ’65, Maurice Masse, a farmer, discovers a mysterious device in his lavender field that takes off at an astonishing speed, leaving marks on the ground. The news draws crowds and thrusts Maurice into an unwanted spotlight as he tries to protect his family and cope with the sudden fame.

Other by David Moreau

Featuring Olga Kurylenko, Jean Schatz, Phillip Schurer…

What’s it about? When her mother dies suddenly, Alice, who had cut ties with her family years ago, is forced to return home to arrange the funeral. She unwillingly reconnects with her traumatic past upon returning to the house where nothing, not even her teenage bedroom, has changed…

Did you know? Other was conceived by director David Moreau after he spent a long time contemplating what constitutes monstrosity—whether it’s the monster itself or the way society views things that are supposed to be terrifying. This question led to the development of the film.

The Laugh and the Knife by Pedro Pinho

Featuring Sérgio Coragem, Cleo Diára, Jonathan Guilherme…

What’s it about? Sergio travels to a West African metropolis to work as an environmental engineer on a road construction project between the desert and the forest. He forms an intimate but unbalanced relationship with two locals, Diara and Gui, and soon learns that an Italian engineer assigned to the same mission months earlier had mysteriously disappeared.

Did you know? The Laugh and the Knife is set in a major city in West Africa, deliberately unnamed. Pedro Pinho aimed to capture the tension between hypermodern zones (NGOs, air-conditioned offices) and popular neighborhoods. The locations were chosen for their evocative power rather than their fame or aesthetics.

Oslo Trilogy / Love by Dag Johan Haugerud

Featuring Andrea Bræin Hovig, Tayo Cittadella Jacobsen, Marte Engebrigtsen…

What’s it about? On a ferry returning to Oslo, Marianne, a doctor, reunites with Tor, a nurse at the hospital where she works. He shares that he often spends nights on the ferry seeking ephemeral encounters with men he meets on dating sites.

Rock Bottom by María Trénor

What’s it about? Inspired by Robert Wyatt’s iconic album, ROCK BOTTOM delves into the dizzying love story of Bob and Alif, two young artists from the early 1970s hippie culture.

Fires on the Plain by Ji Zhang

Featuring Zhou Dongyu, Liu Haoran, Yuan Hong…

What’s it about? China, 1997. A series of murders haunts the city of Fentun. The crimes mysteriously cease without the authorities solving the case. Eight years later, a young police officer, close to one of the victims, decides to reopen the investigation.

Did you know? Ji Zhang, originally a cinematographer, was immediately driven to adapt the novel Moïse dans la plaine upon reading it. He contacted the author Shuang Xuetao directly to acquire the rights and then spent five years turning this literary work into a deeply personal cinematic endeavor.