The 74th edition of the Cannes Film Festival kicked off to a roaring start on Tuesday night!
As the end credits of this year’s opening night film “Annette” rolled, the crowd stood for an ovation. Director Leos Carax smoked a cigarette from his seat in the Palais out of relief. He then handed one to his star, Adam Driver, who lit up and puffed at the cameras while the crowd cheered for five full minutes.
After a year of lockdowns and a worldwide pandemic, it truly felt as though the audience was cheering for more than the debut of what seems to be a terrific film, but for the return of cinema as audiences used to know it.
The Cannes opened with a variety of fun, familiar faces, including an ecstatic Driven, Jodie Foster, President of the Jury Spike Lee and surprise guest Pedro Almodovar, all of whom marked the return Cannes Film Festival at an extravagant opening ceremony.
The reception to “Annette,” however, seemed to be mixed, as sources reported that audience members fled their seats and left the premiere midway through the film.
The musical, co-produced by Driver, follows two star-crossed artists, played by Driver and Marion Cotillard, who give birth to a baby girl. The film is wrapped with a soundtrack comprised of melancholy songs instead of the upbeat tracks contemporary musicals aim for.
“Annette” was released in France on July 6, 2021, and also premiered as the opening film at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival on the same day. Thus far, the film has received positive reviews, mainly praising Driver and Cotillard’s performances.
