The entire room was electrified, as if in the heat of midsummer.
The Lumière Hall went completely wild—on every level.
They never expected the "Cotterell Family" crew to be a smokescreen, nor did they anticipate the jury to be so firm this year, and they certainly didn't expect the biggest surprise of this year's Cannes Film Festival to be "Elephant."
Shock after shock, surprise after surprise, swept through the hall like a tidal wave.
Destroying all reason.
The audience fell into a frenzy.
Not only Alex and Eric were stunned, but even Nicholas and Carl in front of their TV screens were trembling in awe at the overwhelming energy in the room.
At Gus's signal, Alex and Eric rushed behind Anson, using the tall figure as a human shield. Before Anson could react, Gus was already pushing all three of them onto the stage together.
Clap, clap, clap, clap!
Thunderous applause erupted, climbing higher and higher, almost shaking the roof of the Palais.
Patrice Chéreau stepped forward, beaming, and handed the Palme d'Or to Gus, warmly embracing him.
Roar, roar, roar! The cheers, still rising, fully ignited the atmosphere.
Gus took a deep breath, glancing back at Anson and the others. Anson was the first to start clapping, followed by Alex and Eric, who quickly joined in with cheers and whistles, making the scene all the more lively.
Gus couldn't help but smile as well.
Standing in front of the microphone, Gus took another deep breath.
"Thank you, thank you…"
In fact, Gus had never imagined he would stand here—the highest stage of the three major European film festivals. It always felt like something far removed from him. When making movies, he never thought about awards; most of the time, he was just worried about securing funding, assembling a crew, and translating his ideas into film.
And yet… here he was.
A small surprise.
"Actually, what I wanted to say, I've already said earlier. Clearly, I didn't expect a second time, so I didn't prepare anything."
Honest, straightforward, humble.
But that's Gus. He was never one for eloquent speeches.
Laughter filled the Lumière Hall, the atmosphere lighthearted.
"All that I've wanted to say, and all that I could say, is in the film. That's why I became a director, not a talk show host."
Ha!
"But here, I want to thank Anson. He's the soul of this movie. Sorry, Alex, Eric, no offense."
Laughter echoed again.
Gus looked earnestly at Anson. He wasn't joking, though the laughter and applause from the crowd made him glance back at Anson, a bit puzzled.
"Until the very last moment, I wasn't sure casting Anson was the right decision. Just like the film shows, I wanted the kids to reflect their real selves in school, something raw and unpolished. But obviously, Anson wasn't a high schooler anymore, far from it."
"Yet, when we met, Anson convinced me—without even speaking."
"His hair, his clothes, his demeanor matched everything I had imagined. He confirmed the very purpose of this movie."
"It wasn't about violence."
Oh!
There was a collective gasp.
"Sorry to disappoint you."
Gus remained calm and candid.
"I wanted to capture the state of contemporary American teenagers. School violence and guns were just a part of it. There's also their daily lives, how they view society and the world, and the future they see."
"In them, we see our society—both its present and its future."
"Maybe Anson was the only actor who truly grasped that inspiration. So when Anson appeared on screen, the story had already begun."
"Anson is the inspiration for the whole story."
The audience was stunned.
Following Dior's Hedi Slimane, another person was now referring to Anson as their muse.
More importantly, the lingering effect of "Elephant" was still resonating. Upon reflection, the film's portrayal of everyday life wasn't just a glimpse into adolescence; it was a snapshot of society.
A wave of admiration swept over the hall.
"I need to thank Anson for agreeing to take on this role, even though I couldn't pay him much. I also want to thank him for exploring this story with me and for giving his all, helping Alex, Eric, and me find direction in our confusion."
"In the end, we arrived here together."
"Ladies and gentlemen, Anson Wood."
Clap, clap, clap, clap!
The hall erupted.
This was a historic moment—a director sharing the glory of winning the Palme d'Or with his lead actor, granting him the highest honor.
Clap, clap, clap!
Nicholas watched Anson bathed in golden light, feeling a rush of emotion.
When TMZ first reported Anson had completed filming "Elephant" in Portland, the entire Hollywood scene mocked him for being a shallow actor in over his head.
But now, this so-called shallow actor had brought a film, dismissed by many, to the stage at Cannes—and had even won the Palme d'Or.
It was a stunning, unexpected journey.
Unbelievable—Anson Wood, an actor in a Palme d'Or-winning film!
Nicholas straightened his back, joining in the applause with renewed vigor.
In the midst of the thunderous applause, Anson looked at Gus in disbelief, but Gus stood firm, motioning for him to give an acceptance speech.
Anson was half-laughing, half-crying—
The Palme d'Or was an award for directors; what business did an actor have up there?
But standing on the stage, there was no room for hesitation or modesty.
After confirming one last time, Anson stepped forward, graciously and confidently.
Clap, clap!
The applause soared even higher. Seeing Anson's calm and composed demeanor, people began whistling, adding to the festive mood.
Among the crowd, Thierry Frémaux also stood up, wearing a polite, composed smile—
Though inwardly, he was cursing.
The jury gave no mercy this year—seven awards, and only four films were recognized. Anyone could see it was a criticism of the overall quality of the competition this year. Naturally, as artistic director, Thierry took the brunt of the blame.
But…
He had already vented his frustration earlier today when the results were announced. Now, as he watched this scene unfold, he couldn't help but praise the decision: awarding the Palme d'Or to "Elephant" was a bold and commendable move by Patrice Chéreau.
After all, in ten or twenty years, when people think of this Cannes Film Festival, they won't remember the controversies surrounding "The Cotterell Family" or "Brown Bunny," and perhaps not even how "Dogville" or "Mystic River" led the critics' scores. What they will remember is that "Elephant" won the Palme d'Or.
And maybe they'll also remember Anson's remarkable and confident debut at Cannes.
Thierry's eyes gleamed with appreciation as he raised his hands high, clapping vigorously, and joining the audience in whistling.