Cate Blanchett Blows Kisses as Apocalyptic Comedy ‘Rumours’ Gets 4-Minute Standing Ovation at Cannes Film Festival

Cate Blanchett blew kisses to the Cannes Film Festival audience as her new film, “Rumours,” earned a four-minute standing ovation at Cannes Film Festival on Saturday night.

The crowd welcomed the film’s dark humor, laughing throughout the entirety of the late-night screening. While some of the auditorium emptied out while the credits rolled, the majority of filmgoers waited patiently to pay their respects to the film’s stars. Blanchett’s “Rumours” co-star Alicia Vikander was notably not in attendance.

The film’s trio of directors — Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson and Galen Johnson — seemed surprised by Cannes’ relatively new tradition of handing the filmmaker(s) a microphone for post-screening remarks. They made a speech together after the applause wrapped, thanking the audience and quoting their own film by saying “it’s better to burn out than to fade away.”

The dark comedy follows a group of world leaders who meet at the G7 — a political and economic meeting of the minds between Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States — but get lost in the woods while trying to compose a joint statement.

In addition to Blanchett and Vikander, “Rumours” also stars Charles Dance, Roy Dupuis, Denis Ménochet, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Rolando Ravello, Takehiro Hira and Zlatko Burić. It is screening out of competition at Cannes.

Co-director Madden is one of the most celebrated Canadian filmmakers and is best known for his experimental style. His previous films include “The Saddest Music in the World” (2003) and “My Winnipeg” (2007). With Evan Johnson and Galen Johnson, Maddin has co-directed 2017’s “The Green Fog,” which revisited Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” through found footage.

Blanchett has previously been on the Croisette for Todd Hayne’s “Carol” (2015), for which she earned a best actress nomination at the Oscars. And, in 2018, Blanchett served as the jury president of the festival. Vikander was last at Cannes for Karim Aïnouz’s “Firebrand,” which competed for the Palme d’Or.

“Rumours” is produced by Square Peg, Buffalo Gal Pictures and Maze Pictures.