The Greatest Showman #1347 - Twitter Frenzy

It's almost unimaginable that at the Cannes Film Festival, a film could receive a standing ovation from both the media and the jury that lasts for ten minutes. The thunderous applause reverberated through the Lumière Hall, bringing it back to the splendor of its movie temple glory. It felt almost surreal—like a fleeting moment that transported people from Cannes to Toronto in an instant.

But in reality, this was truly happening.

Perhaps this is the magic of cinema. In the world of light and shadow, the line between reality and fantasy becomes blurred. We get lost in it, entranced by it, addicted to it. Only by truly surrendering to the art can one feel the profound weight embedded in the film grain—an eternal source of passion.

Among the crowd, Emily didn't notice the reactions of anyone else. Her eyes were fixed on Renly, a figure she could lock onto with ease even amidst the sea of people. The noise around her faded into oblivion. The bitterness in her heart, the overwhelming emotions, were all present, but she couldn't find the words. All she could do was clap, sending her praise and gratitude to Renly Hall for introducing her to the soul of LeVine Davis.

After the ten-minute standing ovation, the excitement didn't die down immediately, but eventually, the crowd began to leave Lumière Hall, albeit reluctantly.

Unlike the Berlin Film Festival, where a formal Q&A session is held after screenings, the Cannes Film Festival has its own unique approach. For movie critics, there's no need to ask questions immediately; they can discuss and analyze in private parties or one-on-one interviews later. Interview reporters, on the other hand, pick their interviewees based on buzz and word-of-mouth feedback.

As such, there was no official Q&A after the screening of Drunken Country Ballad—instead, a special press conference was scheduled for the following morning. This would allow reporters to further process their thoughts before directly interviewing the creators of the film.

Emily left Lumière Hall but didn't head out of the Palace of Cinema right away.

Standing at the door, Emily immediately pulled out her phone and began typing her reaction on Twitter. "Undoubtedly, this is my personal best so far. Renly Hall has secured Best Actor for me."

Even after posting, her excitement couldn't be contained. She quickly posted again:

"Joel and Ethan Coen captured the ballad wave of the '60s through light and shadow, but Renly Hall conveyed the life of the underdog with his eyes and voice. The film ends, and I'm left sitting in my seat, crying, as if something was lost but also something finally filled. For me, this is a story of loneliness."

With her eyes welling up again, Emily couldn't help herself. The first viewing had ended, but she was already yearning for a second. The movie's details replayed in her mind over and over. This was a film meant to be reflected upon repeatedly.

Then, Emily recalled the soundtrack. It wasn't a musical or a dance film, but every song was integral to the storytelling. Each song's timing, its selection, and its performance were perfectly aligned with the narrative, enhancing the development of the plot. The lyrics, the performances, the emotions—they seamlessly wove together into the fabric of the story.

Moved once again, Emily posted for the third time:

"The best soundtrack of the year is already a lock! A masterpiece in every way. By the way, I need to start listening to 'Don Quixote' right now. Renly Hall is a natural performer!"

Her excitement overflowed, and Emily began scrolling through Twitter, eager to see others' thoughts. Within five minutes, the topic of Drunken Country Ballad had already racked up over 900 tweets, quickly climbing the hotlist. She couldn't help but smile as she read:

"The two scenes at the beginning and end have established Renly Hall as the leader of today's generation!"

"Drunken Country Ballad is undoubtedly a masterpiece! The Coen brothers brought a touch of warmth to the cold. Incredible! This is their best work since No Country for Old Men, and personally, I like it even more."

"The Palme d'Or!!! The Coen brothers' use of camera movement and changes in light and shadow is mesmerizing, and Renly Hall's performance is so rich and delicate. Unbelievable excellence!"

"In today's nihilistic world, everyone is running, but only a few know why. The Coen brothers have captured this beautifully, just as they did in the '60s."

"Renly's performance in Crazy in Love and Take Off was fantastic, but now, it's all about natural talent. No need for forced effort; everything comes from within. The way the camera focuses on him, the world falls silent."

"Best performance of the Cannes Film Festival! The chemistry between Renly and the Coen brothers is electric."

"I never thought I'd say this, but... give Renly Hall the Best Actor award! He killed it!"

"Music is breathtaking. Since the new century, this is the most perfect marriage of music and film. Who said Renly is just an amateur singer? I think not. The singer who was delayed by acting! Also, please release the soundtrack soon!"

"God, I really love movies!"

"The Coen brothers have done it again! Another career high!"

"This film is like a poem, one that weeps."

"Ten minutes! Ten minutes of a standing ovation! My hands are swollen, my voice is gone, but I can't stop cheering. The first ten-minute ovation at this year's Cannes Film Festival!"

Official magazine reviews and professional critiques hadn't been posted yet, but the social media buzz was already overwhelming. In just a few minutes, the film's keywords flooded the trending topics list, making it the hottest conversation at the festival.

While internet language can sometimes be exaggerated—where a six becomes an eight, and an eight becomes a ten—Emily could genuinely feel the wave of enthusiasm continuing from Lumière Hall all the way to the digital world.

She chuckled when she saw a tweet that read, "I just saw Li An burst into tears!"

Emily couldn't help but reply, "Trust me, Mr. Lee isn't the only one. Mr. Vin Spielberg was the first to get a standing ovation, and yes, there were tears in his eyes!"

According to Twitter's official stats, after Drunken Country Ballad ended, an average of 5,337 tweets were posted per second, setting a new record for the Cannes Film Festival.

As the hours passed, Emily finally reached the audience she had been waiting for.