The Best Actor in the Vase of Meiyu

Chapter 2105 Breaking Prejudice
Hoo hoo hoo! Clap clap clap!
The applause rose higher and higher, filling the entire venue, and a wave of heat swept down, creating a deafening roar.

Familiar faces seemed to be turning into strangers, and those smiles and excitement transformed into a blurry halo that instantly engulfed Anson.

Anson, who is usually calm and composed, became unusually reserved, a demeanor he never displayed even when he was the target of reporters' attacks during the filming of "Friends".

This was indeed unfamiliar to Anson. He could feel that the applause and cheers were different from those of "Spider-Man." The fervor and approval conveyed in their eyes seemed to be changing silently. The heat wave made his cheeks slightly hot, and his heartbeat lost its rhythm.

This is the first time I've ever felt this way.

Just like how he excelled in all other subjects but always failed math, he finally scored 80 points on a test, and his teachers and parents were full of praise.

To be honest, I'm not quite used to it.

Anson gave a polite smile, stepped aside slightly, and introduced Reese Witherspoon to the group.

They should not forget that Reese worked with him on this project, and that Reese did an excellent job.

Ahhhhh!
The audience was very enthusiastic, with shouts and cheers coming in waves.

Reese appeared even more reserved and flustered, her eyes slightly moist. She tried to force a smile in response, but found that things were not so easy.

Anson and Mangold noticed Reese's disheveled state. Anson stepped forward, gave Reese a big hug, and gently patted her back.

"you're worth it."

Reese nudged Anson's chest. Anson, confused, thought his action was too intimate and might arouse Ryan Phillippe's jealousy.

Unexpectedly, Reese gestured to her eyes, "Be careful, your makeup might leave a mark on your white suit."

Anson: ...

Anson silently took a small step back. Although the room was filled with laughter, she had to do her best to remain calm and maintain her ladylike image. Then she raised her hands high and joined the applause and cheers of the audience.

At this point, Reese finally regained some control of herself, and she cleverly shifted the focus to Mangold, quietly escaping the spotlight.

In Cannes, directors hold a unique position. Ultimately, film is still the art of the director. In an instant, the heat of the Lumière Hall reached its peak. Mangold looked at the dazzling scene before him with deep emotion, happiness and joy surging in his chest. He embraced someone.

James Kitcher, producer.

No matter what disagreements or conflicts the two had, at this moment, none of it mattered. "Walking with Song" had stumbled and fallen along the way since its inception, experiencing countless long troughs and... troughs. The entire project seemed to have never experienced a moment of dawn.

They doubted themselves more than once, wondering if the project would ever make it to the big screen.

However, their dream eventually came true. They not only completed the filming, but also appeared on the big screen in the Lumière Hall in Cannes.

Both Mangold and Kitcher were filled with mixed emotions.

Three minutes... five minutes... the applause continued in a grand and sustained manner.

After going around in circles, the cheers, whistles, and screams all came back to Anson, surrounding him completely.

This time, Anson couldn't easily escape. Quietly gazing at the dazzling and surging scene before him, overwhelmed with emotion and a multitude of thoughts, Anson tried to remain calm and display his usual composure and confidence; yet, he was gradually defeated by the frenzy and enthusiasm of those familiar faces, ultimately collapsing completely. Unexpectedly, his eyes welled up with tears.

It's not because of success, nor because of fame and fortune, but because of recognition.

Finally, beyond his good looks, people have seen his talent as an actor. After a long and arduous journey, he seems to be able to say with pride—

He is an actor.

His eyes welled up with tears. After a brief moment of embarrassment, Anson regained his composure and embraced the cheers with grace. His smile bloomed freely through his blurry tears as he quietly and carefully took in the magnificent scene before him.

For a full fourteen minutes, thunderous applause filled the hall, and the Lumière Hall's unbelievable treatment propelled "Walking with Song" to an unparalleled peak.

It is in no way inferior to "hidden camera".

So, the Palme d'Or?
The entire city of Cannes was in an uproar. At this moment, all the media and film fans who were unable to enter the Lumière Hall were waiting outside the Palais des Festivals.

The endless applause was already astonishing enough, but what was even more astonishing was the rare sight of Anson's eyes welling up with tears, which instantly sparked countless discussions.

They were all pounding their chests and wailing, already upset enough about missing "Walking with the Song," but then they also missed a rare glimpse of Anson's genuine emotions!

The premiere finally ended, and the crowd surged. A small group of media rushed to the press conference hall, seizing the opportunity to interview Anson and the crew as soon as possible; a small group of media gave up the opportunity early and left the Lumière Hall to go to other venues to continue watching the film, and word of mouth spread.

It turned out that those media outlets that gave up were wise, as the press conference room was packed to the brim.

Rumor has it that the entrance was packed with people, and even those who couldn't get inside were willing to stand outside and listen to the press conference. Inside, the place was overflowing with people, every nook and cranny crammed in like a sardine can – a scene that will surely go down in Cannes history.

The press conference lasted forty-five minutes, filled with laughter and excitement, with no dull moments. Not only Anson, but Reese also delivered a string of witty remarks.

It was certainly wise not to go and join the fun, but not only the press conference room, but the whole of Cannes was in an uproar.

With Elephant's unexpected Palme d'Or win preceding Anson's world-first achievement, the appearance of "Walking with the Song" carries a slightly different meaning.

Especially amidst the thunderous applause following the premiere, speculation about winning the Palme d'Or spread like wildfire throughout Cannes, some even with unwavering conviction.

Thierry Frémaux invited Anson back to Cannes, already prepared for the Palme d'Or.

In fact, any film enthusiast who knows a little about Cannes knows that this is impossible. The Cannes team remains independent and never interferes with the jury's discussions and selections. That's why we have seen films like "The Elephant" and "Fahrenheit 911" unexpectedly winning the Palme d'Or in the past two years, but the Cannes team still doesn't interfere.

Such unexpected events and situations are precisely what make film festivals so captivating.

If the Cannes artistic director used the Palme d'Or as a bargaining chip to invite top stars to Cannes every year, there wouldn't be so many legendary directors in the world who haven't won the Palme d'Or yet, and Woody Allen wouldn't have refused to enter the main competition this year for fear of his work receiving bad reviews.

However, reason is reason, and gossip is gossip.

Everyone knows the reasoning, but that doesn't stop people from discussing the possibility of "Walking with the Song" winning the Palme d'Or.

"So, is it worth the Palme d'Or? More worthwhile than Haneke? Is the first blockbuster since Haneke born?"

(End of this chapter)