Roars of laughter, roars of applause.
A wave of heat surged forward.
But Anson knew that amidst the cheers and applause, there was more good-natured teasing than genuine praise—the Palme d'Or should be the director's moment, not the actor's; after all, Anson wasn't the lead in Elephant, and he shouldn't be receiving this special attention.
The crowd was egging him on.
However, if Anson stayed on stage, constantly being humble and declining the attention, it would come across as pretentious.
So, Anson stepped forward.
Standing at the microphone, Anson didn't rush to speak. Instead, he waited patiently, waiting for the cheers to die down and for the right moment to speak.
Finally, as the applause and cheers subsided, and the room quieted, all eyes focused on Anson.
Anson scanned the room, took a deep breath, and it seemed like he was preparing for a grand, moving speech.
"Thank you!"
Anson said.
And with that, he turned and walked back to stand beside Alex and Eric, completely calm, leaving the entire Lumière Hall in silence.
It was so short, so sudden, that the audience was left utterly stunned—
That's it?
Wait, what just happened? That's it?
Everyone exchanged confused glances. In the silence and bewilderment, there was something oddly funny about the whole situation.
Indeed, the Palme d'Or should belong to the director, not the actor. People were hoping that Anson would be wise enough not to steal the spotlight, that a brief, polite word would suffice.
But that brief? That simple?
Total confusion!
Then, slowly, they began to realize that Anson had cleverly turned the attention back to the film and the director with his brief words. In doing so, he created a comedic effect reminiscent of silent film-era humor—
People couldn't help but laugh.
Just a moment ago, the crowd was teasing him, wanting to see what Anson would do.
But in the next moment, his witty response ignited the room.
Laughter, applause, cheers, whistles, and screams erupted, sweeping across the Lumière Hall like a tidal wave.
The energy grew higher and higher, and at this moment, the closing ceremony and awards show finally reached its peak.
Even Thierry couldn't help but join in. This was the second time that night, after the red carpet, that he had admired Anson's impromptu handling up close.
On stage, Gus, Alex, and Eric deliberately stepped back a little and clapped for Anson, urging him to go back to the microphone.
Anson: ???
Wait, what?
With a smile creeping up his face, Anson, without hesitation, returned to the microphone. Once the noise quieted down, he glanced over at Gus.
"Sorry, director, I stole your spotlight. It feels like I won the Palme d'Or."
Ha ha, ha ha ha.
The room burst into laughter.
This time, when the applause died down, the entire audience remained standing, all eyes on Anson.
For a brief moment, Anson stood as if at the center of the world.
"Thank you for this experience. In just ten short days here at Cannes, every minute and second reminded me why we love cinema and why we dedicate ourselves to it. Is it because of our passion? No, it's because of cinema itself, because the time and space on the screen allow us to dream boldly."
"Elephant is the perfect example of the most wonderful, moving aspect of cinema: leaving everything to the imagery. The future of cinema lies where it began: in the theaters."
Roar, roars of applause.
Someone in the audience immediately cheered, and the applause followed.
But this time, Anson didn't stop and continued with momentum.
"There's no place more perfect or romantic than the cinema. Those sounds, those lights, those colors make us believe in something that may have long since withered inside us."
"Like dreams. Like the future. Like art."
"So, I'm honored to be a part of Elephant. I'm honored to be a part of the Cannes Film Festival."
"Thank you."
Clapping, roaring applause.
In an instant, the entire Lumière Hall erupted, an incredible energy exploding through the room and spreading beyond its walls, reverberating throughout the Palais des Festivals and all of Cannes.
Nicholas, Carl, Emmanuel, and even the journalists standing hesitantly at the entrance of the Palais felt the vibrations in the air, their hearts trembling slightly. The pinnacle moment of the 2003 Cannes Festival was unfolding.
Everything was about cinema.
Everything was about the theater.
It was quintessentially French.
For as long as anyone can remember, France has always believed that cinema is a great art form and that it belongs in theaters. VHS tapes and DVDs should be reserved for collections, or for unearthing gems from the past, but if you truly love a film, you should go to the theater.
They don't just say this; they live it. France's art-house theaters are some of the best in the world, and art films and independent films consistently receive strong support. Not only do audiences show their support, but various institutions and sponsors are also willing to back these projects.
Of course, in this era dominated by commercial blockbusters, France isn't immune to the influence. Hollywood films are gaining more sway among the younger generation, and with globalization and the rise of the internet, the French youth are facing a cultural crisis of decline.
It is precisely because of this that the Cannes Film Festival has become even more precious. They hope to use this platform to rekindle young people's love for cinema and encourage them to keep going to theaters, showing their support for the film industry with real action.
And in that moment, Anson's words hit right at the core of Cannes. The Lumière Hall went wild.
Thierry, full of delight, looked at Anson—
Who would have thought that what started as a lighthearted tease, with Anson himself probably not expecting to be giving a Palme d'Or acceptance speech, would evolve into the most precious and beautiful moment of the 56th Cannes Film Festival?
It was the perfect way to conclude the festival.
This is Cannes. They adore directors, but rarely, if ever, are they captivated by actors. Not even Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, or Leonardo DiCaprio get special treatment here, and they may even be snubbed. Actors have no privileges at Cannes.
Yet, at this moment, Anson was changing that.
Admiration and respect flowed from Thierry's eyes as he gave Anson another round of applause, sincere and heartfelt.
In front of TV screens, the press room was in complete chaos—
The official score was 2.4. Elephant was clearly not everyone's top choice, and the controversy surrounding the film wouldn't fade. But seeing Elephant take the Palme d'Or, this scene felt like a perfect Hollywood ending.
After all, who could refuse Anson?
Nicholas glanced around, noticing the excitement and thrill on every face. At the last moment, Cannes had still managed to end on a perfect note.