SCANDALOUS WOMEN TAKE THE SPOTLIGHT.

This article focuses on the representation of transgressive women in films by women directors featured at this year's Cannes Film Festival. It highlights Justine Triet's Palme d'Or-winning courtroom drama *Anatomy of a Fall*, which portrays a complex female protagonist accused of murder, challenging simplistic characterizations. The festival also showcased films like Catherine Breillat's *Last Summer* and Todd Haynes's *May December*, both exploring controversial age-gap relationships with nuanced perspectives. In contrast, the opening film *Jeanne du Barry*, directed by Maïwenn and starring Johnny Depp, is critiqued for its conventional storytelling and perceived opposition to contemporary feminist movements. The presence of a record number of women directors suggests an effort by Cannes to address its history of sexism, though the festival's commitment to artistic innovation remains debated.