Story perspectives

Rami Malek’s “The Man I Love” Debuts at Cannes

5/23/2026

Summary

Malek Cannes Premiere

The Man I Love, starring Rami Malek, premiered at Cannes May 20 2026 and received an ovation.
Malek feared the AIDS role would repeat his Freddie Mercury part, but accepted after director Ira Sachs promised another approach.
Jimmy George, a 1980s New York theater artist, returns from AIDS hospital stay to stage a performance.
The film, featuring Tom Sturridge, Rebecca Hall, Luther Ford and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, does not name HIV but mentions pneumonia and AZT, and seeks U.S. distribution.

Summary

Sturridge Talks Filming

Tom Sturridge says director Ira Sachs filmed without rehearsals or line discussions, a leap of faith that lets moments breathe.
Sturridge will appear in Mia Hansen-Løve’s Mary Wollstonecraft biopic starring Renate Reinsve, where critics hail his restrained Dennis as the film’s anchor and finest performance.
Reviews criticize Luther Ford’s Vincent for poor chemistry with Malek and for dragging the pacing, saying musical scenes stall momentum in the 95-minute runtime.

History

Historical Context

Jonathan Demme’s 1993 film *Philadelphia*—which premiered on December 14, 1993, earned $206.7 million worldwide and won two Oscars—marked Hollywood’s first major AIDS-focused drama. Its success helped normalize queer stories on screen, paving the way for later works such as Ira Sachs’s *The Man I Love*, which opened Cannes in 2026 starring Rami Malek and revisits the epidemic without naming HIV.

1 of 3

Malek Cannes Premiere

The Man I Love, starring Rami Malek, premiered at Cannes May 20 2026 and received an ovation.
Malek feared the AIDS role would repeat his Freddie Mercury part, but accepted after director Ira Sachs promised another approach.
Jimmy George, a 1980s New York theater artist, returns from AIDS hospital stay to stage a performance.
The film, featuring Tom Sturridge, Rebecca Hall, Luther Ford and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, does not name HIV but mentions pneumonia and AZT, and seeks U.S. distribution.

1 / 3