Rumours is a film that asks what really goes on during a G7 summit, an annual meeting with 7 of the leading nations in the world: the UK, the US, France, Germany, Canada, Germany, Italy and Japan. This year, it is Germany’s turn to host, with Cate Blanchett’s German Chancellor Hilda, hosting in the small village of Dankerode in central Germany. However, when their bells to summon staff for more wine are unsuccessful, the G7 leaders are left in a remote woodland setting to fend for themselves in a near-future dystopia.
Whilst you may expect some serious discussion, what Rumours offers is a political satire that mocks both political leaders and the systems that they work in. The opening feels like the start of a reunion between friends. Catching up on past flings and getting reacquainted, constantly procrastinating to avoid an unnamed crisis. The British Prime Minister has to at one point remind the other leaders that “this isn’t summer camp”. The G7 is shown as a ceremonial sequence of photographs, taking photos at historical sites for brownie points. One such photograph is taken at a 2000-year-old grave where the body has been mummified. A point where the normality and sanitised nature of a meeting between leaders becomes surreal.
The film is full of hyper-stylisation. Opening with the leaders vapidly waving with bold credits announcing the cast, it is clear the filmmakers are alerting the audience that this is not in any way realist cinema, it is loud, bold and in your face. It is clear that we are watching a film, it is not a film you slowly sink into the world and become one with the characters. Especially in the opening section, the film is full of quippy satire, the politicians are caricatures of their representative real-life leaders, whilst the summit’s theme of regret provides the right amount of wishy-washy nonsense that you’d expect from the biggest leaders procrastinating to avoid important and impactful decisions.
The film is filled with a strong cast. Most notably Cate Blanchett and Charles Dance. Blanchett’s Chancellor acts as a leader of the group, fearing press humiliation as the G7 group runs into trouble, yet she is also flirtatious, often running off for her own self-gain. Meanwhile, Charles Dance’s US President has his typical British accent (for no apparent reason), but he nevertheless plays the older leader well, defeatist in the appeal of a provisional statement, often dozing off in key moments. The other leaders also poke fun at stereotypes, there is the large French President who needs his own French wine, a Japanese Prime Minister who seems sort of out of it, and an uptight British Prime Minister who is trying to keep everyone on track. However, Zlatko Burić, who was so brilliant in 2022’s Triangle of Sadness is significantly underutilised.
To add to the caricatures, with some fun comedy, particularly in the opening act, is a punchy jazzy score that is impossible to ignore. However, as the stakes of safety become more prevalent, the film loses sight of what it wants to be. Although there is some stuff about the Leaders being puppets, without much impotence, on a conveyor belt and often simply existing, Rumours is unable to succinctly connect the satire with the larger themes. With the sci-fi and horror elements often being anti-climactic it ends up being a piece saying little. Moments of sincere openness feel uncertain, are they supposed to be satirical or not. Whilst the film’s conclusion is bizarre, aiming for something euphoric but instead feels like a whimper, as you reflect that the film is saying nothing.
Whilst Rumours offers an interesting and zany aesthetic and fun satirical tone. A half-baked plot that loses its satirical essence without much in the way of interesting or cathartic moments makes Rumours a pretty mixed experience that I won’t be rushing back to relive.
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