There were more than a few misty eyes in the audience at the premiere of Pixar’s animated adventure “Elemental,” which closed this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
The sweet love story that attracts opposites proved charming for attendees, closing the festival with a five-minute standing ovation. At least one grown man in the orchestra was wiping away his cascading tears as the credits began to roll. It’s safe to assume he wasn’t alone in his emotional reaction to the film.
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“My heart is about to explode,” said “Elemental” director Peter Sohn.
“This film is about the richness of diversity. Our lives are better when there are different points of view.
Before the screening, Jane Fonda, Quentin Tarantino, John C. Riley, “Game of Thrones” star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Orlando Bloom, as well as jury president Ruben Östlund and jury members Brie Larson, Paul Dano, Julia Ducournau walked the famous red carpet one last time this festival.
The closing night film was preceded by an hour-long awards ceremony, during which the Palme d’Or was awarded to “Anatomy of a Fall” by Justine Triet and the Grand Prix was awarded to “The Zone of Silence” by Jonathan Glazer.
It was a long night for the people at the Palace, who arrived at the 7:30 p.m. convocation time and left after the credits just before midnight. They were greeted by a spectacular, breathtaking fireworks display on the Croisette. What does it say? Good things come to those who wait.
With about 20 minutes between the ceremony and the screening, which was called at 8:30 p.m. and started around 10 p.m., most of the room dutifully retired for a smoke break. Many of those viewers left after the closing ceremony, so after the film was over, those who were still there rushed to the center aisles to get a better view of the voice cast and the filmmaker.
“It is an honor to bring this film to Cannes. Thierry is an honour,” Sohn said as festival chief Thierry Fremaux hugged him.
“Elemental” is set in a world inhabited by anthropomorphic elements of nature – some of which mix well and some that don’t. The story revolves around the friendship between the fire element Ember, a fearless and quick-witted young woman with a strong personality, and the water element Wade, a sentimental boy, who likes to have fun and follow the fluent. Although their different characteristics prevent them from touching each other, they discover how much they have in common.
Sohn says “Elemental” is inspired by romantic movies like “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” “Moonstruck” and “Amelie.” It’s the fourth Pixar film to screen at Cannes after 2009’s ‘Up’, 2015’s ‘Inside Out’ and 2020’s ‘Soul’. It is set to debut in theaters on June 16.
The voice cast, most of whom walked the carpet for Saturday’s premiere, includes Leah Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, Ronnie del Carmen, Shila Ommi, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Catherine O’Hara.
Several high-profile Hollywood films screened at Cannes this year, including Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” and James Mangold’s “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Fate.” The 76th edition kicked off with “Jeanne du Barry” by Maiwenn, starring Johnny Depp, on May 16.
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