Cannes 2025: Richard Linklater’s ‘Nouvelle Obscure’ earns thunderous 10-minute standing ovation at Cannes

Richard Linklater, Paolo Luka-Noé and Zoey Deutch depart the ‘Nouvelle Obscure’ purple carpet on the 78th annual Cannes Movie Pageant at Palais des Festivals
| Picture Credit score: Getty Photos

Richard Linklater lit up the Cannes Movie Pageant Saturday evening with the world premiere of Nouvelle Obscure, a putting, black-and-white homage to Jean-Luc Godard and the French New Wave. The movie acquired a 10-minute-plus standing ovation contained in the Palais des Festivals, with applause erupting earlier than the lights even got here up.

“Cinema is magic,” Linklater informed the group, visibly moved because the cheers lastly started to fade.

Nouvelle Obscure dramatises the making of Breathless (À bout de souffle), the revolutionary 1960 movie that helped launch the French New Wave cinematic motion. Instructed in French and shot in 4:3 facet ratio on celluloid, the movie stars Guillaume Marbeck as Godard, Zoey Deutch as Jean Seberg, and Aubry Dullin as Jean-Paul Belmondo. Linklater’s route mimics the bounce cuts, spontaneity, and rebellious spirit of the New Wave itself.

The movie was stored below wraps forward of its premiere, with no advance screenings for critics. Linklater, whose work has constantly challenged movie conventions, wished audiences to expertise it recent, on the large display, in France.

Including to the evening’s electrical energy was a second between Linklater and fellow movie devotee Quentin Tarantino, who embraced the director within the theater earlier than the screening started, drawing cheers from the viewers.

Paris-based gross sales agent Goodfellas is now buying Nouvelle Obscure to worldwide consumers, with curiosity already constructing after the electrical reception.