Last Updated on October 18, 2024 by
Rumours is a 2024 Movie Directed by Evan Johnson, Galen Johnson, and Guy Maddin. The film stars Cate Blanchett, Rolando Ravello, and Charles Dance, with a runtime of 1h 43M, and was released on October 18, 2024.
In the movie Rumours, the main character is Hilda Ortmann, portrayed by Cate Blanchett, who is the chancellor of Germany. She is hosting a major event referred to as the G7 Summit. To those who may have limited knowledge about the G7, it is made up of the six developed countries of the world which comprises Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, and the United States of America. These leaders convene to deliberate on matters that can impact people in different parts of the world. But, there’s a catch: is it possible to remain concerned with professional responsibilities and tasks?
Maxime Laplace ( portrayed by Roy Dupuis) – Canadian Prime Minister, Sylvain Broulez (Denis Ménohchet), the President of France., Nikki Amuka-Bird as Cardosa Dewindt, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom., Antonio Lamorte (Rolando Ravello) – the Prime Minister of Italy., Takehiro Hira as Tatsuro Iwasaki, the Prime Minister of Japan., Edison Wolcott (Charles Dance), President of the United States based loosely on several past Presidents of the United States; this adds a comic element. Led the G7 Summit.
For those who might not know, the G7 is a group of the wealthiest countries in the world, including Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, and the United States. These leaders meet to discuss important issues that can affect people everywhere. But, there’s a catch: can they stay focused on their serious work?
This work is set in a gloomy village named Dankerode located in Germany and which is enclosed by dark forests. At the start of the film, the leaders communicate in an awkward, silly manner that resembles a scene from a Wes Anderson film. Maxime, who still has feelings for Cardosa, tries to open a conversation regarding their past relationship. But Cardosa is more curious about their work and would prefer to work on building a large report on international relations.
On the other hand, Sylvain Broulez is writing a book about graveyards, which is made fun of by the other leaders. He reaches a ridiculous vision of how he wants the American nation and the president, namely Wolcott, to be remembered after he dies. Antonio is a kind but somewhat naive boss, and Tatsuro is less assertive, becoming tearful when discussing the Japanese economic crisis.
Chancellor’s World: Hilda has a background that she once starred in a play that said some rather disgraceful things regarding immigration. Even though all of these three leaders have the power to do anything they want, they all seem a bit lost and absurd sometimes, which is the focus of comedy in the movie.
Further on, due to distraction, the leaders cannot concentrate, which results in a series of amusing and peculiar occurrences. This leads them to the situation like in the film ‘The Exterminating Angel,’ where the characters are trying to write and produce something, but they cannot do it. They turn to the significant topics of the conversation and begin speaking about their shyness and other issues, thus sharing more about themselves than about the world.
The film has a rather peculiar and inventive tone that mixes comedy and contemplation of life throughout Rumours. At one point when they are inspecting an ancient preserved body that is posed in an eerie manner, Hilda jokingly says that perhaps he is the one the guy is scared of rather than the other way round. This sarcastic approach to some of the movie’s content is present throughout, thus forming beloved and developing the viewers’ thoughts.
Finally, touching on the concept of leadership and comedic chaos intertwined with the personal problems of the main characters, it is possible to note that the movie is not only a political comedy but, in fact, a comedy of life and its perky details. It is like the fragments from life, grandiose visions, and a few profound things about humanity.
In the end, Rumours stands out as a film that challenges our expectations, offering both laughter and a reflection on the absurdity of power and the human condition. It’s a clever, entertaining look at what happens when powerful people are put together in one room and how their personal lives can interfere with their important responsibilities.
Rumours 2024 Parents Guide Age Rating
Rumours is rated R by the Motion Picture Rating (MPA) for some sexual content/partial nudity and violent content.
Language: The movie also features several examples of strong language and cursing. Language, especially when the characters are angry or arguing, is not always polite, even when addressing other world leaders. Verbal aggression is manifested in the form of insults and sarcasm and is often employed, especially when political differences arise. Sometimes, taboo humor is also used, which may not be suitable for children or teenagers.
Violence: While it is a drama and does not contain scenes where the physical fight occurs, there are scenes where the characters express their anger in a very aggressive manner. The leaders often engage in heated arguments, and the conversations can become rather spiteful, with both parties shouting at each other. A scene featuring a preserved ancient body; a ‘bog person’, as they are called, is rather gory. The corpse is depicted as skeletal and ragged and has been called, “slackly hung over a tree full of liquefied innards,” which could be graphic for many people, especially children or others who are sensitive to realistic depictions of stripping and decay. Some aspects could be viewed as humorous but convey gloomy and grim messages; for instance, the characters’ conversations about death are not only somber but also are interspersed with comical elements as when the President of the United States of America, for instance, shares the vision of his death.
Sexual Content: Pre-existing romantic relations between the characters are incorporated in the movie. For example, Canadian ‘prime minister, Maxime Laplace’ reveals he is still in love with the UK ‘prime minister,’ Cardosa Dewindt. Yes, there are some scenes of attraction and initial build-up to a relationship between the two characters, but no actual scenes of intercourse are depicted. There is rude and lewd dialogue and some of the lines contain elements of double entendre. The characters occasionally engage in discussions about matters of sex or relationships, but the conversations are verbal and not supported by lewd behavior or actions. There could also be certain suggestions of adultery since Maxime’s emotional attempt to seduce Cardosa suggests an earlier affair.
Drug and Alcohol Use: Alcohol consumption is depicted multiple times throughout the film. World leaders are seen drinking during the G7 Summit events, often using alcohol as a way to cope with stress or to let their guard down in social settings. One character, Antonio (the Italian Prime Minister), is portrayed as a bit clueless and is seen casually putting ham in his pocket.
