Cannes Film Festival: 20 Best Palme D'Or Winners Ever
11. The Piano (1993)
A movie which broke records thanks to Anna Paquin's powerful, Oscar-winning debut performance, The Piano was directed by Jane Campion and follows a psychologically mute piano player (a career-best Holly Hunter) who is moved to New Zealand with her daughter (Paquin) so she can marry a frontiersman (Sam Neill).
Equal parts haunting, romantic and unpredictable, the drama makes for a captivating viewing experience, following one broken, uncertain woman as she finds love and tries desperately to reclaim her prized piano, an item representing her entire identity and freedom.
Add to this emotional power the core performances of Hunter and Paquin, who certainly offer up two of the most unforgettable roles of their careers, and what you have is a Palme d'Or winner guaranteed to make you shed a tear, and marvel at the sheer daring of its central tragedy.