Kanye West Debuts Movie at Cannes

First a rapper, then a fashion designer, and now a filmmaker? Over the past week, Kanye West debuted a short film (less than 30 minutes in length) at Cannes. Called Cruel Summer, the concept came to fruition while West was working on Watch the Throne. But rather than simply putting together a movie, West specifically wanted to change how movies are watched and how the audience is involved with Cruel Summer, and as a result, a seven-screen concept, with multiple angles, is employed throughout the short.

Unlike other projects from West, Cruel Summer’s Cannes screening was relatively low-key, with only 200 people in attendance. Kim Kardashian and Jay-Z were part of that group, as were the film’s actors, which included Kid Cudi, Big Sean, Razane Jammal, and Ali Suliman. West and comedian Aziz Ansari also have small parts.

Made in association with Doha Film Institute and shot in Doha, Qatar, Cruel Summer is about a car thief who meets a beautiful and blind Arabic woman, who gets around her house with gold strings. Her father tells the thief she can only marry if he helps her see. Along with the plot, sound plays a significant part in the film, and, according to Billboard, the bass was strong enough to make the audience seats shake during the premiere.

In briefly talking about the film, West said: "I can dream one day that [this] will be the way people will watch movies."