Elvis Screening At Cannes Reaps Positive Response: 12 Minute Standing Ovation

Austin Butler (Instagram @elvismovie)

JAKARTA - The film Elvis directed by Baz Luhrmann received positive appreciation. Premiering at the Cannes Film Festival, the film received a standing ovation for 12 minutes.

As a result, this film received the longest reception of all screenings at Cannes. Priscilla Presley, wife of the late Elvis Presley also attended the event and congratulated Austin Butler.

“I had a bit of an epiphany because 30 years ago, my wife and I made a film called Strictly Ballroom and we gave it to one exhibitor,” says Baz Luhrmann.

“He saw the film and left before the film was finished. He said "This is the worst film I've ever seen and you ruined (Pat Thomson's) career," recalls the director.

After Luhrmann recalled when the Cannes committee contacted him to show the film. He also remembered when Elvis production was postponed because Tom Hanks had experienced COVID-19.

"The courage (of Tom Hanks) to come back, the cast and crew to get through COVID-19 and finish the film, and we came back to Cannes and saw the streets filled with people who love films," he said.

"That's why we are very grateful, Cannes. All I can say is thank you, thank you, thank you," said Baz Luhrmann.

The Elvis film is Baz Luhrmann's latest work after The Great Gatsby in 2013. Here, Austin Butler plays Elvis Presley and Tom Hanks as manager Tom Parker. The Elvis film is slated to be released worldwide starting in June.