The French Dispatch 2021

Movie · 108 min · English, French · July 12, 2021

Directed by Wes AndersonWritten by Wes Anderson

Starring Owen Wilson, Benicio del Toro, Tony Revolori, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton

A 2021 American anthology comedy drama film, The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun, is the work of Wes Anderson, who wrote, directed, and co-produced it alongside Roman Coppola, Hugo Guinness, and Jason Schwartzman. It tells three stories through the final issue of a fictional newspaper, the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun. The first tale, titled "The Concrete Masterpiece", centers on an imprisoned and erratic artist, with Benicio del Toro, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, and Léa Seydoux in key roles.

The second storyline, "Revisions to a Manifesto", draws from the May 68 student protests, starring Frances McDormand, Timothée Chalamet, and Lyna Khoudri. The third narrative, "The Private Dining Room of the Police Commissioner", involves the abduction of a police commissioner’s son, featuring Jeffrey Wright, Mathieu Amalric, and Stephen Park. Arthur Howitzer Jr., the paper's editor, is played by Bill Murray, while Owen Wilson appears briefly to set up the film's fictional locale, Ennui-sur-Blasé.

The production began as an untitled musical project in August 2018 following World War II. It was officially unveiled that December, with Anderson describing it as a "love letter to journalists". Principal photography occurred between November 2018 and March 2019, using cinematographer Robert D. Yeoman, in Angoulême, France. Post-production included editing by Andrew Weisblum and musical composition by Alexandre Desplat.

Originally delayed from 2020, the film made its debut at the Cannes Film Festival on July 12, 2021. It opened theatrically in the United States through Searchlight Pictures on October 22, 2021. Critics responded favorably, especially praising the soundtrack, visuals, and acting. The movie earned $46 million globally, exceeding its $25 million budget.