Francis Ford Coppola “relieved” at Megalopolis’ Cannes standing ovation

Francis Ford Coppola has expressed “relief” his long-gestating movie Megalopolis was well received at the Cannes Film Festival, where it prompted a ten-minute standing ovation.

The filmmaking legend has been trying to make his labour of love, a science-fiction epic that imagines Rome transposed onto a fallen New York, for 40 years and has invested large amounts of his own fortune into it.

“You become filled with relief and joy,” he said of how he felt after its glitzy premiere. “What is a combination of relief and joy?”

He added that it was a “crowning joy after all these years of having an idea” to see Megalopolis resonate with its audience.

The film has received mixed reviews – but has also been praised for its ambition and themes, which pan from comparisons between today’s America and the Fall of Rome, to the desirability of utopia and mankind’s hope for the future.

However, he is not concerned about the financial risk he has taken on the movie – which is yet to get full distribution in the US.

“I don’t care. I never cared,” he said defiantly. “I put the risk in the movie. I have no problems with the financials. My children, without exceptions, have wonderful careers without a fortune.”

It was a thought echoed by one of his stars Giancarlo Esposito, who said “Film is supposed to take risks” before adding that he was “moved to tears” at the Cannes screening. Jon Voight also said he was “deeply moved” despite having a very different political outlook to his director.

The other members of the cast also praised Coppola, with lead Adam Driver saying working with him felt like “experimental theatre”. Nathalie Emmanuel compared his approach to directing to that of a “conductor with his orchestra”, while Aubrey Plaza described the experience of working with him as a “dream come true”.

As for Coppola – even at 85 he’s working on another project and also teased a tweak to his most beloved film, The Godfather, adding, “There is a scene I might add one day.”

Mark Worgan
Image: Festival de Cannes

Megalopolis does not have a UK release date yet.

Read more reviews from our Cannes Film Festival 2024 coverage here.

For further information about the event visit the Cannes Film Festival website here.