A Palme d’Or for Mike Leigh’s Turner Biopic?

Mike Leigh’s hotly anticipated biopic on JMW Turner has been met with a flurry of raving reviews at Cannes, with some seeing it as a serious contender for prizes at the prestigious film festival and beyond, the BBC reports.

Featuring Timothy Spall in the title role, Mr Turner follows the life of the British painter between London and Margate in Kent. While art is omnipresent, the film doesn’t shy way from more controversial aspects of Turner’s history, including the two daughters he never recognized.

The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw called the film “a triumph.”

According to the Telegraph, Leigh’s regular collaborator Spall gives “what’s probably the finest performance of his career.”

With characteristic British humour, the actor said he was an ideal Turner since the artist was “a funny-looking, fat little man and so am I.” Many believe he could leave the Croisette with a Best Actor award in his pocket.

Mr Turner is one of 18 films competing for this year’s Palme d’Or award.