Barry Keoghan’s New Movie ‘Bird’ Gets Standing Ovation at Cannes

Barry Keoghan’s latest film, ‘Bird,’ directed by the acclaimed Andrea Arnold, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival to rave reviews, capping off its debut with an impressive seven-minute standing ovation. Arnold, known for ‘American Honey’ and ‘Fish Tank,’ brings her unique vision to this new drama featuring an all-star cast including Bafta-winning ‘Top Boy’ actress Jasmine Jobson, ‘Passages’ star Franz Rogowski and young talent Nykiya Adams.

‘Bird’ tells the story of Bailey, a 12-year-old played by Adams, who, in her quest for adventure and attention beyond her family, encounters a mysterious stranger named Bird (Rogowski) who enlists her help. The film’s compelling narrative and strong performances resonated with the Cannes audience, who showed their appreciation with lengthy applause.

Also Read: ‘Furiosa’: Anya Taylor-Joy & Chris Hemsworth Wows Cannes 2024 Crowd

Cannes is famous for its prolonged ovations, with Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ holding the record at 22 minutes back in 2006. This year, ‘Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga’ also received notable acclaim, with a six-minute standing ovation. Stars Chris Hemsworth and Anya Taylor-Joy attended, and Hemsworth was visibly moved during the applause, even sharing a tender moment by kissing director George Miller on the head.

Miller, before the screening, expressed his gratitude and curiosity about the audience’s reception, saying, “We worked very hard on this film, and it’ll be very interesting to see what you make of it.”

Not all films had such a unanimous reception. Francis Ford Coppola’s dystopian epic ‘Megalopolis’ received a mixed response. While some in the audience booed, the mood shifted during an “In Memoriam” segment dedicated to Coppola’s late wife Eleanor, turning the initial boos into cheers.

This emotional moment culminated in a seven-minute standing ovation. Coppola, deeply moved, addressed the crowd at the end, saying, “Thank you all so much. It is so impossible to find words to tell you how I feel.”