Scarlett Johansson has made a major splash in Cannes with her feature directorial debut “Eleanor the Great.” Competing in the Un Certain Regard competition, the film — starring June Squibb, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Erin Kellyman — earned Johansson and her cast a five-minute standing ovation on Tuesday.
Her husband, “Weekend Update” anchor Colin Jost, arrived solo and mingled with Sony Pictures Classics executives Tom Bernard and Michael Barker.
“Really, everyone that came together for this film came together because they loved the story, the script so much.
It’s a film about many things: it’s about friendship, it’s about grief, it’s about forgiveness.
After the screening ended to rapturous applause, Johansson gave Squibb a tender hug that seemed to go on for several minutes.
Scarlett Johansson made a big impression at Cannes with “Eleanor the Great,” her first feature film as a director. Johansson and her cast received a five-minute standing ovation on Tuesday for their film, which is part of the Un Certain Regard competition and stars June Squibb, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Erin Kellyman.
Bryan Lourd, the CEO of CAA and Johansson’s all-powerful agent, escorted her. Arriving alone, her husband, Colin Jost, anchor of “Weekend Update,” socialized with Michael Barker and Tom Bernard, executives from Sony Pictures Classics. Adrien Brody, the current Oscar winner for best actor, and his partner Georgina Chapman were also present and engaged Jost in conversation.
Speaking about the film, Johansson described its Cannes premiere as “a dream come true.”. “.”.
Surprise, surprise, she added, “No one is doing it for the money when you make an independent film like this.”. “Everyone who came together for this movie did so because they were enamored with the plot and the screenplay. The film covers a wide range of topics, including forgiveness, grief, and friendship. And I believe that we can utilize all of those themes much more now. “.”.
Squibb portrays the witty and proudly troublesome 94-year-old Eleanor Morgenstein in “Eleanor the Great,” who, following a tragic loss, tells a story that takes on a dangerous life of its own.
Johansson gave Squibb a comforting embrace that seemed to last for several minutes after the screening ended to thunderous applause. She went on to call her main star “really inspiring.”. She also described Kellyman as a “complete revelation” and expressed her excitement for the world to meet her. “”.
When the applause subsided, Johansson remarked, “I think it’s a historic and very timely film, so I hope that you all carry it with you the way that I carry Eleanor with me.”.
This year at Cannes, Johansson is playing two roles: she is part of the all-star cast of Wes Anderson’s “The Phoenician Scheme.”. She also has some Cannes experience, having gone to see Anderson’s final film, “Asteroid City,” in 2023. Before that, she had attended Cannes for two Woody Allen productions: Match Point (2005) and Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008).
“Eleanor the Great” was produced by Johansson in collaboration with Jonathan Lia, Keenan Flynn for These Pictures, Kara Durrett and Jessamine Burgum for Pinky Promise, and Celine Rattray and Trudie Styler from Maven Screen Media.
The movie was jointly financed by Wayfarer Studios, MacPac, Pinky Promise, and Content Engineers. Wayfarer Studios’ executive producers include Andrew Calof, Steve Sarowitz, Justin Baldoni, and Jamey Heath. Executive producers Raj Kishor Khaware and Ezra Gabay work for Content Engineers.
