The longest standing ovation at Cannes lasted 22 minutes — here’s why applause lasts so long

The Cannes Film Festival aims to showcase the best films to come, and it’s no surprise that many of the films shown there are worthy of praise and celebration. But in the decades since the film festival began in 1946, an extraordinary phenomenon has occurred. Cannes films tend to receive very long standing ovations.

For example, on May 20, Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon received nine minutes of applause. On the other hand, a standing ovation of five minutes or less can be seen as a sign that the film has not lived up to expectations. variety reported that “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Fate” received five minutes of “lukewarm” applause.

Learn more about the standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival.

What film received the longest standing ovation at Cannes?

The longest standing ovation recorded at Cannes was in 2006 for “Pan’s Labyrinth,” which lasted 22 minutes of thunderous applause. quartz. 2004’s “Fahrenheit 9/11” nearly broke that record with 20 minutes of applause, and 2002’s “Mad” received 18 minutes of applause. 2016’s “The Neon Demon” received 17 minutes of applause, and 2018’s “The Neon Demon” received 17 minutes of applause. Both “Capernaum” and his 2012 “Paperboy” were hit with his 17 minutes of cheering. 2003’s “Bowling for Columbine” was 13 minutes, 2012’s “The Artist” was 12 minutes, and 2009’s “Inglourious Basterds” was 11 minutes. And 2018’s “BlackKlansman,” 2011’s “The Beaver,” 2016’s “Captain Fantastic,” and 2015’s “Carol” were all ten minutes long.

Why is the Cannes standing ovation so long?

There’s no exact reason why long standing ovations have become a staple of this glamorous seaside event. But sociologists have come up with several explanations and, in short, have come to the conclusion that Cannes audiences simply follow the behavior of those in the front row.

According to Nicholas Christakis, director of the Yale Institute for Human Nature, the Cannes standing ovation is indicative of a “prestige hierarchy,” or a human tendency to value connection over survival. Filmmakers, actors, and executives whose tendencies likely lead audiences to imitate those in the front row, whom audiences typically tend to perceive as more powerful and influential It is included. “It’s about getting close to animals that can bring benefits,” said Christakis. Atlantic In 2021. ABCFor example, when the standing ovation after “Killers of the Flower Moon” began to die down, Leonardo DiCaprio and the members of Osage Nation continued to cheer, sparking new waves of applause and the ovation extended to 9 minutes.

Yet another, more logical explanation may be to blame.according to Associated PressAfter the film wraps up in Cannes, the camera swoops down to stay on the individual faces of the filmmakers and cast, giving each one a close-up. This means applause isn’t just for movies. That goes for individual stars and team members as well.

But this alone is not enough to explain the extreme length of many Cannes ovations, well beyond what happens at the likes of Sundance and the Toronto International Film Festival. Perhaps Cannes’ standing ovation has something to do with the richness of the French Riviera and the sea breezes that blow around it, or maybe it’s the result of a tradition that has gotten out of hand and now unstoppable. In any case, the news of the long cheering at Cannes should be taken with a grain of salt.