Garance (Another Day) Debuts at Cannes: A Study of Addiction, Performance, and Critical Reception

“Garance” (also titled “Another Day”) premiered in competition at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. Set in Paris, it follows Garance, a fledgling stage actress whose heavy drinking underpins her daily life. She maintains punctuality but repeatedly jeopardizes work, prompting an intervention from theater colleagues. Personal crises include her sister’s cancer and a romance with set designer Pauline. The story charts her descent into dependency and an uncertain prospect of redemption.

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Jeanne Herry writes and directs. Adèle Exarchopoulos stars as Garance, delivering a dramatic-comic performance. Supporting cast includes Sara Giraudeau as Pauline, Anne Suarez, Mathilde Roehrich, and Joris, the imperious leader of the children’s theater company. The ensemble also features Joachim, Garance’s former lover, and Charlotte, her sister with cancer.

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Critics praised Exarchopoulos’s charisma and technical skill, noting her ease with both comedic quips and dramatic moments. A musical number for children was described as “remarkable” and “dazzling.” Reviewers also pointed to the script’s avoidance of deeper exploration of Garance’s motivations and a structure of short scenes and abrupt cuts that limits character insight. While some found the comedic interludes effective, others cited “missed opportunities” that underutilize Exarchopoulos’s talent.

‘Garance’ Review: Jeanne Herry’s Underwhelming Alcoholic Actress Vehicle Deters the Turbulently Brilliant Adèle Exarchopoulos [C] Cannes

World premiere: 2026 Cannes Film Festival, Competition. The film adds to a modest share of female-directed entries at Cannes. Cast features five named actors: Adèle Exarchopoulos, Sara Giraudeau, Anne Suarez, Mathilde Roehrich, and others. The film’s inclusion in the competition reflects Cannes’ ongoing commitment to diverse storytelling.

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The film’s female-fronted focus on alcoholism highlights evolving representation at major festivals. “Garance” follows a lineage of female alcoholic protagonists, noting Gena Rowlands as a benchmark. Its portrayal of a functional yet self-destructive drinking pattern prompts discussion of addiction depiction in contemporary French urban drama and of women’s narratives in cinema.

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Reviews differ. Deadline says the film starts strong and lets Exarchopoulos display her talents, yet notes that the appeal fades when sobriety dominates. AwardsWatch criticizes the script’s refusal to explore Garance’s motivations, calling the film a series of missed opportunities. Micropsiacine calls the narrative a conventional addiction-drama that adds little new to the genre. No official statements from the director or Cannes organizers are provided.

‘Garance’ Review: Jeanne Herry’s Underwhelming Alcoholic Actress Vehicle Deters the Turbulently Brilliant Adèle Exarchopoulos [C] Cannes

• “If you miss a show, you reimburse the theater,” — Joris, theater director

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• “Next time it will be worse,” — Joris, theater director

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• “We refuse to watch you spiral,” — colleague (unnamed)

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• “Her colleagues in the children’s theater company where she works — more out of concern than complaint — tell her: if she keeps drinking like this, she can’t keep working with them.” — theater colleagues

‘Another Day’ Cannes Review: Adèle Exarchopoulos Carries a Conventional but Emotionally Honest Alcoholism Drama