Francis Ford Coppola's 'Megalopolis' Captivates Cannes 2024 with a 7-Minute Standing Ovation
Cannes, France - Legendary Hollywood director Francis Ford Coppola has made a triumphant return to the prestigious Cannes Film Festival after 45 years, presenting his epic dystopian sci-fi film, 'Megalopolis'. The movie, described as an Iliad-esque epic, has garnered mixed reactions from the festival attendees, with some hailing it as Coppola's best work yet, while others view it as a bold and ambitious project from a visionary director. Despite the varied opinions, the audience showed immense respect to the 'The Godfather' director, giving him a 4-minute standing ovation upon entering the theatre.
Following the credits, which included a heartfelt tribute to his late wife Eleanor, 'Megalopolis' received a 7-minute standing ovation at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. Coppola embraced lead actors Adam Driver and Giancarlo Esposito on stage, visibly emotional during a speech where he expressed his gratitude. "Thank you all so much. It is so impossible to find words to tell you how I feel," he said, before introducing his family members in the audience. "But they were not the only family because all of these wonderful actors and folks were all my family. As Cesar [Driver’s character in the film] says, we’re all one family. You’re all my cousins. We are one. We are the human family. As you see at the end, that’s who we should pledge our allegiance to: our entire family and to this beautiful home, Earth, that we have."
The science fiction thriller includes a scene wherein a man walks onto the physical stage and speaks to Adam Driver’s character through the screen, a moment that startled some viewers when the theatre lights turned on. 'Megalopolis' is eyeing a late 2024 release in India, with no specific date announced yet.
Coppola's emotional dedication of the film to hope and the human family resonated deeply with the audience, highlighting the director's profound vision and the universal themes of unity and environmental stewardship present in 'Megalopolis'.
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