How to win the Palme d'Or at Cannes:

1. Be in any language but English
2. Be about a family
3. Be ambiguous with your [spoiler] sad [/spoiler] ending

_Shoplifters_ isn't a bad film. It has some interesting things to say about families and it says them extremely well. But when I think about about a film that embodies passion for filmmaking, _Shoplifters_, with its over-long second act, wouldn't be my first choice this year. (If you care, the correct answer amongst films in competition is either _Dogman_, _Happy as Lazzaro_ or _Leto_, but I would've accepted _Under the Silver Lake_ or _Burning_ ;-) ).

Still, _Shoplifters_ is a safe choice and is a harmless film for critics to rave over so run along then and play with your trophy, I have bigger films to see.

**UPDATE**: After receiving several death threats, I'm forced to re-evaluate my position... Honestly, upon reflection a day later, I've realised _Shoplifters_ has affected me more favourably than I'd thought, so I'm increasing my rating to a 'like'. In retrospect, I probably went into the cinema with a chip on my shoulder, bullying the film into making me like it, and this is a film that doesn't deserved to be bullied.