Clap clap clap.
Clap clap clap!
The applause kept growing, and when Anson and the others stood up, it reached a new peak. The already overwhelming wave of heat surged another level, turning into a storm.
Gus Van Sant looked slightly shy and reserved.
This director, who has been in the film industry for almost twenty years, had competed in the main competitions at Berlin and Venice, and stood on the stage of the Oscars. He had seen the peaks and different facets of the world.
Yet, he still maintained a childlike innocence.
He had always insisted on making independent films, focusing for ten years on the scars people carry and the effects left behind. He remained committed to shooting the films he wanted to make and discussing the topics he wanted to talk about. Compared to awards and box office, he cared more about the message the film conveyed.
No frills, always straightforward.
"Elephant" was no different. A collaboration with HBO, it unexpectedly made it to the Cannes stage.
And it earned a standing ovation.
Gus felt a bit bashful, still not accustomed to such moments in the spotlight.
Awkwardly standing up, Gus quietly gestured to Anson and the three children:
"Stop. Stop."
But it didn't work. Anson's smile widened, and he slightly stepped aside, allowing the Lumière Hall to get a clear view of Gus.
Boom!
Incredibly, the applause rose another notch—
It swept across the entire hall.
Gus, surrounded by applause, was stunned by the scene in front of him, unable to believe his eyes and ears. He looked around:
Smiling faces filled every corner of his view, wild and ecstatic.
Suddenly, Gus felt his eyes well up with warmth.
He awkwardly wiped the slight moisture from the corners of his eyes and quickly put on a big smile, trying to hide his embarrassment. Then, copying Anson and the others, he started clapping too.
But unexpectedly, his emotions were stirred again, and warmth filled his eyes once more.
Though Gus never made films for moments like this, always focusing on life itself rather than awards and box office—otherwise, he wouldn't have made experimental films like Gerry and Elephant, which explore life and death.
But like all art, films only have value when seen by people. Otherwise, they are merely self-talk.
This scene overwhelmed Gus with emotions.
Since Good Will Hunting, he had almost disappeared from the public eye, and people had long forgotten that a director named Gus Van Sant was still making films with all his heart.
Gus didn't want to make a big deal out of it or be overly sentimental, but he couldn't hold back the tears.
Anson noticed and stepped forward, giving Gus a strong hug, patting him on the back, "Director, anyone who didn't know might think I stole your credit."
The joke made Gus burst into laughter.
Then Anson added, "This is your moment. Enjoy it."
Once again, Gus's eyes welled up, and he both cried and laughed, as if his facial nerves were out of control.
The roaring applause broke through the doors of the Lumière Hall, reverberating throughout the first-floor lobby of the Palais des Festivals.
Buzz, buzz.
The air gently vibrated, as if a tsunami was approaching.
The crowds inside the lobby, and the audience waiting by the doors, all turned their attention toward the same direction.
After a brief moment of confusion, they perked up their ears and finally understood what was happening inside:
So... Elephant was a hit?
Shock, astonishment, exchanged glances.
Suddenly, everyone started discussing, unable to believe that Anson's Cannes debut had earned a full standing ovation—what a surprise.
Thinking back to last summer, after Spider-Man blew up the North American box office, Anson had disappeared from the public eye until TMZ revealed the news—Elephant was entering the spotlight, sparking heated discussions in Hollywood.
People mocked, easily guessing that Anson was trying to break into the art film scene to shake off his pretty-boy image. But that was laughable. If it were so easy to shed the "heartthrob" label, Hollywood wouldn't have so many good-looking actors stuck in it—
Leonardo DiCaprio, Matthew McConaughey, Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Will Smith, Hugh Grant, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and so on.
If you wanted, the list could go on.
They all wanted to break free of their idol status but never quite succeeded. Now it was Anson's turn.
Instead of trying to fly before learning how to walk, it might be wiser to focus on the huge fame brought by Spider-Man first.
Working with Gus Van Sant?
It seemed like a terrible choice, a desperate move. After all, Gus's best days were long behind him. He had been in self-amusement for too long, producing not art but garbage. Choosing Gus as a director could end in disaster.
However!
But!
Elephant not only made it into the Cannes main competition, but it also stunned everyone and shattered all expectations; it blew up the Lumière Hall during its highly anticipated premiere.
How did this happen, God!
So, what exactly happened inside the Lumière Hall?
Clap clap!
Clap clap!
The applause continued, unending.
And it only intensified.
In less than thirty minutes, the news had spread throughout the entire town of Cannes. People attending the festival in different venues heard the news spreading like wildfire:
Elephant received a twelve-minute standing ovation.
Twelve minutes.
Astonishment, shock, excitement.
Those who couldn't attend Elephant's premiere at the Lumière Hall were swept up in the storm, their world spinning:
What just happened?
Cannes is not Venice or Toronto. Unlike those friendly festivals, Cannes is known for its harshness. Even compared to the cold, objective Berlin, it's just as brutal, if not more so.
In Berlin, if a film is bad, it's bad. The audience won't sugarcoat it. Cold criticism is delivered without mercy. But at Cannes, it's not just criticism. Booing, cursing, and even walking out in the middle of a film are common. The French are known for expressing their dissatisfaction with passion.
So, when a film receives a standing ovation at Cannes, it means it's a hit. If the applause lasts more than three or five minutes, it's an explosion.
It's as simple as that.
And the post-screening press conference for Elephant confirmed this once again.
When the cast and crew appeared, the journalists stood up again, greeting them with a tsunami of applause, cheers, whistles, and screams. The press room was instantly drowned in a wave of noise, pushing the Cannes Film Festival to its first climax.