By Ellise Shafer. The two hour and 20 minute dystopian drama certainly divided the audience at the Cannes Film Festival on Thursday night with its collision course of shocking scenes: a doctored sex tape featuring Adam Driver , Shia LaBeouf in drag playing a Trumpian figure and Aubrey Plaza dominating her way through a slew of men. But there was still a huge amount of respect for iconic director Coppola, who received a four-minute standing ovation upon entering the room.
After the credits rolled — which included a tribute to his late wife Eleanor — and the standing ovation began, Coppola hugged Driver and Giancarlo Esposito and got emotional as he made a speech dedicating the film to hope and family. We are one. We are the human family. That is my wish. The lights came on, startling some in the audience, but viewers stayed silent, as they had for most of the movie.
Earlier, though, the body language from the stars and their maestro on the red carpet indicated something unusual. Coppola, 85 years old and holding a cane, kept waving a straw hat at photographers and batting off a handler who tried to guide him on where to go. LaBeouf stood toward the end of the cast and kept to himself, while Driver and Plaza helped their director up the stairs.
Chloe Fineman rolled her eyes at the sea of photographers. Once inside, Coppola was greeted by a standing ovation before the movie began. He blew kisses to audience members, who clapped in sync for the filmmaker, and sat down between Shire and Driver.
Other Coppola family members, including his nephew Jason Schwartzman who also has a role in the film and Mars, attended to support the director. Corrupt mayor Franklyn Cicero Esposito challenges Cesar and wants to stick to the status quo, but his daughter Julia Nathalie Emmanuel comes between the two men.
