The famous film festival is finally making the world dream again – despite war, Corona and streaming competition. Happy and sad stories from the French Riviera.

Voilà, they’re back, the familiar images. Anyone strolling through Cannes these days thinks the world is almost the same again. International sun worshipers jostle along the crescent of the Croisette beach. In the background, swarms of men in tuxedos and women in voluminous evening dresses rush from the luxury hotels to the gala performances and on to the after-show parties in the beach clubs. Oysters are slurped, champagne bottles and credit cards emptied.

The circus is back.