"The Birthday Party" Receives 12-Minute Ovation at Cannes Premiere

Léa Mysius’ latest feature, "The Birthday Party" (Histoires de la Nuit), received a 12-minute ovation Friday evening at the Cannes Film Festival following its debut screening in the Grand Théâtre Lumière.

It marked the last world-premiere screening in this year’s 22-strong competition lineup.

The audience broke into cheers twice during the screening of the home-invasion thriller before giving the French feature wildly enthusiastic applause as the lights went up.

Adapted from Laurent Mauvignier’s bestselling novel of the same name, "The Birthday Party," follows Thomas and Nora and their teenage daughter Ida, who live on a remote French marshland where social contact is limited.

Monica Bellucci plays their only neighbor, Cristina, an Italian painter.

The official synopsis continues: "As the two households plan a surprise birthday party for Nora, strange disturbances begin to occur, and unease rolls over the marsh,".

Director and actress Hafsia Herzi, who was in Cannes last year with her own film "The Little Sister," and actor Bastien Bouillon (The Count of Monte Cristo) play the couple.

Benoît Magimel, Bastien, Tawba El Gharchi, and Paul Hamy also star.

The ovation included a moment when Cannes boss Thierry Frémaux insisted that El Gharchi, who plays Ida, be allowed to address the audience, which was raving about her performance.

“I don’t have that much to say,” she said in French. “But I’m happy, and I want to thank Lea for picking me. And, I want to thank the actors, who were very nice to me and very funny. And I thank everyone. Voila.”