It was a perfectly ordinary morning in Cannes. Even while standing in line at the coffee shop to buy their lifesaving caffeine, everyone was talking about "The Elephant."
Roger Ebert sat at a round table in the corner, quietly appreciating the scene before him, his mind already drafting his review.
Last night, he had tossed and turned, his mind repeatedly returning to "The Elephant."
He had already finished writing his review because Roger knew that in Cannes, every day came with its tasks. Delaying one thing would trigger a domino effect, potentially ruining his entire schedule, especially since it was still early in the festival.
However, after waking up this morning and re-reading his review, what had seemed barely passable last night now looked like a heap of garbage, too painful to look at. Despite knowing the consequences, he deleted everything.
In the end, he just wasn't satisfied.
It had been a while since a film had stirred so many thoughts and ideas in his mind. Even though the movie had ended some time ago, his thoughts were still whirling, like a black hole sucking everything in.
He believed "The Elephant" deserved a real review.
That morning, before heading to the Palais des Festivals to watch the day's main competition film, Roger sat in the coffee shop, hoping to reorganize his thoughts.
He was even prepared to miss the entire morning's schedule.
At that moment, watching the lively scene inside the coffee shop, Roger's lips curled into a slight smile. It seemed he wasn't the only one whose mind couldn't stop.
He couldn't help but wonder:
Why did Anson choose this film?
Some actors, early in their careers, often follow their agents' advice, choosing roles based on their agent's taste. Matthew McConaughey was a typical example. He always played the charming, handsome guy, which helped him quickly stand out in a fiercely competitive environment. But at the same time, that label became an inescapable mark, a shackle that trapped his potential.
Some actors, even when lacking choices early in their careers, still have their own ideas about the roles they play. Unless they're in a dire situation where they have no choice, they often select films that showcase their talent and depth, proving their thoughtfulness as actors. Although it might be tough at first, once given the chance, they shine.
Everyone thought Anson was the former, but in fact, he was the latter.
So, why "The Elephant?"
Wait, focus on the film. He needed to concentrate on writing the review and stop wandering off. But the point was, this movie was like an explosion of inspiration, with thoughts about it extending in countless directions and possibilities, far more complex than it appeared on the surface.
"...Hey, why are you here? Didn't you say you were going to queue at the Palais Riviera?"
"Hell, don't even ask. The Palais Riviera only has 500 seats, but the line at the door stretches all the way to the beach. I followed the line all the way back, almost got lost—went around so many times I lost count. I'd say there were at least 2,000 people. There's no way I'm getting in."
"Uh, is it really that bad? What about the Bazin Theater?"
"Hah, the press screening is already packed. Can you believe it? Even a critic from Sight & Sound got turned away. I heard he'd been queuing for two hours."
"Sight & Sound? The British one? No way!"
"It's true. Everyone's gone mad. And with today's official festival magazine release, it's only going to get worse. I doubt I'll get to see it."
"So, you're giving up?"
"Why not? It's Gus Van Sant, not Godard. If I miss it, I miss it."
"Hah, I believe you. The question is, do you believe yourself?"
"...Fine, I'll try the Studio 13. It's far, but maybe the line won't be so crazy. Who knows? Maybe I'll get lucky. Damn it, Anson, it's all his fault for causing such a stir on the red carpet. Now the whole of Cannes is in chaos because of him. So, are you coming?"
"Of course, let's try our luck. I'm curious, too..."
They chattered on, breathless, like a whirlwind blowing into the coffee shop and then out again just as suddenly.
Whether they were angry and frustrated or excited and enthusiastic, every soul was so alive, so vibrant, radiating energy from the inside out.
A smile crept up Roger's face. This was why he loved film festivals. Despite the annual grind, he always came back for more.
The Bazin Theater was also at the main venue of the Palais des Festivals, on the third floor; the Palais Riviera was diagonally across from the Palais; and Studio 13, a cinema partnering with the festival, was about 1,500 meters away from the Palais, a bit farther.
That's how the Cannes Film Festival worked. A film would premiere in the Lumière Theater, especially for main competition films, seating up to 2,000 people, but that wasn't nearly enough to meet demand. So, the next day, the first wave of re-screenings would be held, allowing audiences to watch the previous day's competition films.
The Bazin Theater, the Palais Riviera, and Studio 13 were the main venues for these re-screenings.
However, Roger was a bit surprised.
He had anticipated that "The Elephant" would spark a wave of discussion and that the re-screenings would surely attract many viewers.
But this level of frenzy? It was shocking. He never expected "The Elephant" to become the first big hit of this year's Cannes Film Festival.
But why?
Was it because of Anson? Maybe. After all, over the past few days, Anson's buzz had even overshadowed the films, making him the undeniable center of attention at Cannes.
But was that all? Probably not. The audience at Cannes knew the difference between hype and substance. They wouldn't flock to the cinema just because Anson caused a stir on the red carpet. Plus, the festival magazine's scores hadn't helped either.
At Cannes, people didn't choose films based on the magazine's ratings. They would still watch the films they were interested in, regardless of the scores. Everyone had their own opinions and standards. However, the magazine's scores did serve as a useful reference. Some might skip a movie because of a low score, while others might still watch it but lower its priority.
The thing was, Cannes was packed, and everyone needed to carefully plan their time. No one could watch every film they wanted to see. Knowing how to prioritize was a skill.
Clearly, the magazine's 2.1 rating sent a signal: "The Elephant" wasn't worth watching.
So, what happened?
Today's re-screening didn't cool off at all; it exploded, with tickets becoming impossible to get.
This wasn't normal. It was, in fact, unusual.
Roger looked up, following the young people leaving the shop, and saw the line at the Palais Riviera stretching all the way to the beach, twisting and turning in an awe-inspiring sight.
Even more incredibly, despite knowing they wouldn't get in, the line kept growing.
Why was this happening?
A sudden thought flashed through Roger's mind, and inspiration burst forth like a fountain, ideas pouring out endlessly.