As it turned out, Thierry was right.
The closing ceremony and award presentation were still ongoing when media reporters, through reliable sources, had already gathered some inside information. By piecing it together with what they witnessed firsthand, the truth emerged—
That security guard clearly wasn't happy about Anson stepping onto the red carpet and becoming the center of attention.
A film enthusiast and advocate of the arts, this guard came to work at Cannes but eventually couldn't tolerate the absurd sight of a "flower vase" destroying Cannes' artistic heritage. His emotions overtook his rationality, leading him to act impulsively and unprofessionally.
This… was very French.
Clearly, Anson was the victim.
But the point is, the position of this victim was somewhat awkward too.
How should a "flower vase" react to those contemptuous stares? And how should one defend themselves?
Anson was very calm and honest about it.
"To be honest, I'm not surprised. This isn't the first time I've been embroiled in controversy at Cannes. The difference is, before it was all verbal attacks, but this time, it's physical."
Ha ha ha.
The reporters burst into laughter. Anson had cleverly poked fun at the French film enthusiasts' passion, and given Anson's reputation during his time at Cannes, the irony was doubled.
"But who could blame him? I've often wondered why I'm here myself. Oh, right, I'm accompanying the director."
"I guess even artistic films need a little 'flower vase' now and then. Come on, French folks, you love movies, but I believe cinema can't simply be divided into commercial and artistic films, right?"
"Hey, only Hollywood does that. You don't want to stoop to that level."
Ha ha, ha ha ha!
Thunderous applause and nonstop laughter.
It was hard to imagine such a tricky situation could be handled so lightly by Anson, with wit and humor that made people want to applaud.
In just a few remarks, he poked fun at French cinephiles while also taking a jab at Hollywood films. Clearly, he knew all too well how French art film lovers felt about Hollywood. With ease, he turned the whole incident into something completely different in tone.
Brilliant!
As the Cannes Film Festival came to a lively close, the "flower vase discrimination" incident on the red carpet became a hot topic—
Some attacked Anson, saying he deserved it, and that a "flower vase" shouldn't be at Cannes in the first place.
Some praised the security guard as a passionate, sincere individual.
Others protested, saying Anson had done nothing wrong, that he brought his work to Cannes' main competition and deserved every bit of his treatment.
Amidst all the fuss, Anson's response to the press was widely praised. His confident, humorous, and composed manner, from how he handled the incident on the red carpet to his post-event press conference, showcased grace under pressure, earning admiration.
The controversy gradually faded away in the hubbub of praise and amazement, becoming a trivial part of the narrative. Instead, it became part of the publicity that only enhanced Anson's image.
Thanks to this incident, the news from the closing ceremony's red carpet flooded the media, and Anson's third outfit of the festival once again dominated the headlines. Cannes, yet again, went viral in an unexpected way, though the promotional effect was undeniably perfect.
No one saw that coming.
In fact, there was no need to wait for feedback from netizens. The reaction from reporters on the red carpet already showed a clear trend:
They were charmed by Anson.
After Thierry left, Anson lingered on the red carpet for a little while longer—
Not too long.
Alex and the others were worried about Anson's condition. Despite Anson repeatedly assuring them he was fine, even the usually easygoing Gus was shaking his head.
If they stayed any longer, they might start swearing in front of the press.
Before things got out of hand, Anson led them into the ground floor of the Palais des Festivals, leaving all the photographers' lenses behind the glass doors.
However—
On the red carpet, the air still buzzed.
By all accounts, reporters aren't particularly fond of "flower vases." They may not hate them, as humans are visual creatures and naturally appreciate beauty. But neither do they admire them, as there's often some prejudice involved.
Yet, having just seen the black-suited security guard trying to forcibly remove Anson, the reporters felt uneasy, with one after another voicing support for Anson.
Why?
Clearly, the reporters had selectively forgotten that just ten days ago, before "The Elephant" premiered at Cannes, they were all mocking Anson for "delusionally thinking he could transition so easily." And now, they were defending him.
The reason wasn't complicated—
When people crudely define someone as a "flower vase," things seem simple. A flower vase is just a pretty face. But once you peel back the label and truly get to know them, you realize there's a real person behind the image, with edges, depth, and a soul.
Over the past week, that's exactly what Anson had shown at Cannes.
A person with independent thoughts, sharp edges, and a real soul underneath the "flower vase" label, not all that different from you or me. So when people mindlessly attacked Anson again, what popped into their heads wasn't a mere "flower vase," but a person of flesh and blood.
Quietly, the image in their minds had changed, without even realizing it.
"At least he has his own views on cinema. He's not just an empty-headed pretty boy."
"Say what you will, but he's still easy on the eyes."
"I think those prejudices need to stop."
"Can I just say it? I thought his performance in 'Catch Me If You Can' was brilliant."
"At least he has good taste in picking films, even with something as light as 'The Princess Diaries.'"
"So what if he's a flower vase? At least he owns it."
"Hey, 'The Elephant' is a good film. And the fact that he chose to work with Charlie Kaufman shows he has taste."
The hushed discussions on the red carpet continued, even after the cast of "The Elephant" had disappeared. The lingering sentiments were still palpable—
Unanimously, and overwhelmingly, in support of Anson. This was something the black-suited security guard never could have imagined—his reckless act had become Anson's ticket to gaining more fans.
This...
It wasn't until the event staff urged everyone to leave, signaling the end of the red carpet, that the reporters snapped out of it, finally pulling their thoughts away from the buzz and surprises.
Emmanuel began packing up his gear, heading to the outdoor terrace on the side of the Palais to await the awards ceremony's conclusion, where all the winning teams would gather with their trophies to face the flashing cameras.
Wait!
Emmanuel stopped in his tracks. Something wasn't quite right—
They had missed something.
Anson's appearance, the red carpet surprise, and "The Elephant" cast's prominence were undoubtedly impressive, but why did it feel like this wasn't the end?
Was that feeling normal?