On day two of the Cannes Film Festival, action and emotion shared the spotlight. Tom Cruise returned to the red carpet with Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning, while Iranian filmmaker Sepideh Farsi premiered Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, a moving tribute to late Palestinian journalist Fatma Hussuna. The festival showed how cinema can thrill and heal — often at the same time.
Cruise, now 62 years old, showed once again that he has no plans to slow down. Known for doing all his own stunts, Cruise brings more action, more thrill, and more heart to the final chapter of the series. He is joined by a star cast, including Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg, and Angela Bassett.
Cruise always knows how to make an entrance. For the Top Gun: Maverick premiere in Cannes, fighter jets flew over the red carpet. In 2018, for Mission Impossible: Fallout, he hosted a big event at the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Now, for the eighth and final movie, fans can expect even more.
Mission Impossible started as a TV show in 1966. Every episode opened with a secret tape and a mission. The show starred Peter Graves and was the American answer to James Bond. The theme song, written by Argentine composer Lalo Schifrin, became a classic. Over time, it has been remixed by rappers and rock bands alike.
Since 1996, Cruise has produced all eight Mission Impossible films. These movies have earned more than $4 billion worldwide. Each one is packed with daring scenes and high-energy action. Cruise’s love for movies is clear. As one co-star said, “Movies are not something he does; they’re who he is.”
But Cannes is not just about glitz and glamour. The festival also shines a light on world issues. This year, the death of Palestinian journalist Fatma Hossuna left many deeply moved. Her film about life in Gaza was chosen to be shown at Cannes. Sadly, she was killed in an airstrike just one day after getting the news.
French actress Juliette Binoche, who is leading this year’s jury, paid tribute to her. “Fatma should have been with us tonight. Art remains. It speaks for our dreams, our truth,” she said.
Filmmaker Sepideh Farsi worked closely with Fatma on the documentary Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk. The film is now showing at Cannes. Speaking to Arts24, Farsi shared her grief. “I wanted her here with me. She’s not, but I feel her presence,” she said.
Farsi met Fatma online in April last year. She had gone to Cairo looking for voices from Gaza. A refugee introduced her to Fatma, and they bonded right away. “We were like sisters,” said Farsi.
The film is full of raw, real moments. In it, we see Fatma laughing and staying strong, even under the threat of bombs. “Her smile lit up every frame,” said Farsi. “She was living in fear, but still full of life.”
When asked if the film’s purpose has changed since Fatma’s death, Farsi said the message is even more urgent now. “It needs to be seen as a true record of what’s happening.”
This week, over 380 film figures, including Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon, signed a letter. They called out the silence over Gaza and spoke against the killings. Farsi said the time for action is long overdue. “We can’t just keep watching children die. This must end.”
Fatma’s last words to her friend were simple but powerful. “Nothing lasts forever. This war will end too.” Farsi holds onto those words and hopes the world listens.
Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk is now playing at the Cannes Film Festival.
