Story perspectives

Cannes Opens with “The Electric Kiss” — 1928 Paris Romance

5/13/2026

Summary

Suzanne Electrifies Cannes

Pierre Salvadori’s “The Electric Kiss” opened Cannes on May 12, 2026 as the opening-night film.
The 122-minute romance follows Suzanne, a carnival performer who sells electric-shock kisses in 1928 Paris.
Painter Antoine Balestro hires Suzanne to impersonate a medium, after which art dealer Armand makes a profit-sharing deal with her.
Critics praise the cast and design but say the film feels overstretched, noting Suzanne earns under nine francs weekly after expenses.

Summary

Salvadori Slows Momentum

Pierre Salvadori directed and co-wrote the screenplay for *The Electric Kiss*.
Reviewers compare its humor to mid-period Woody Allen and Noël Coward’s *Blithe Spirit*, and liken the film to Cédric Klapisch’s *Colours of Time*.
Critics say lengthy flashbacks, especially a cumbersome expositional segment, slow momentum while portraying Irène (Vimala Pons) as an educated, shrewd lover of art rather than a passive muse.

History

Historical Context

In 1928 Warner Bros. released Al Jolson’s all-talking film The Singing Fool, whose hit “Sonny Boy” became the first American record to sell one million copies, proving sound cinema’s market power and was even more popular than The Jazz Singer. That early commercial proof guides Cannes programmers today, where Pierre Salvadori’s 2026 opening The Electric Kiss revives 1928 Parisian cabaret style for modern audiences.

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Suzanne Electrifies Cannes

Pierre Salvadori’s “The Electric Kiss” opened Cannes on May 12, 2026 as the opening-night film.
The 122-minute romance follows Suzanne, a carnival performer who sells electric-shock kisses in 1928 Paris.
Painter Antoine Balestro hires Suzanne to impersonate a medium, after which art dealer Armand makes a profit-sharing deal with her.
Critics praise the cast and design but say the film feels overstretched, noting Suzanne earns under nine francs weekly after expenses.

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