We’ve got our first look at one of the most anticipated movies of the year: Todd Haynes’ Wonderstruck, slated to premiere next week at the Cannes Film Festival. Based on the illustrated novel by Brian Selznick, the film takes place in two time periods, telling dual stories of children running away from home in search of their lost idols: a theater actress, played by Julianne Moore, and an estranged father.
The first clip from Wonderstruck centers on Ben (Oakes Fegley) and Rose (Millicent Simmonds), the story’s two main subjects. Against a soft score and featuring typically gorgeous cinematography from the great Ed Lachmann (also behind Haynes’ brilliant last film, Carol), the two character’s stories—Rose’s taking place in 1927, Ben’s in 1977—briefly merge as they arrive at the American Museum of Natural History to continue on their quests. With Ben searching for his father and Rose embarking on a journey of their own, Haynes hones in on the still, haunting animals put on display, scattered around the museum, as the clip comes to a close.
Wonderstruck, which also stars Michelle Williams, premieres May 18 at Cannes before bowing theatrically in October.
