It's cannes standing ovation season in the news today....17 mins forJulianne moore/tilda Swintons new film apparently.
I didn't realise but apparently this isn't such a display of authentic appreciation as it sounds, as apparently EVERY film shown has at least a few minutes standing ovation, with the longest being pans labyrinth at 22mins https://www.google.com/amp/s/metro.co.uk/2024/05/23/truth-behind-cannes-obsession-marathon-standing-ovations-20898999/amp/
But what actually happens?? Do people really stand and clap for MORE THAN QUARTER OF AN HOUR without stopping? How? Why? Don't their hands hurt after a minute? Don't they get bored? Do they vary it with cheers and whoops? Are the jury also expected to clap? If so that doesn't seem very objective. Surely people who view multiple films don't have any skin left by the end of the week....
How does it end? Who is brave enough to stop the clap and does everyone heave a "thank fuck" sigh when they do? What if you need to leave, do you walk out still clapping?
What do the stars do while they are being clapped? Just stand there awkwardly for a very extended period of time?
I get self conscious when people sing happy birthday to me, I can't imagine the cringe of being applauded for my genius for 17 minutes....
The longest standing ovation I've ever participated in was at the theatre, lasted about a minute and tbh that felt quite long enough!
If anyone has actually ever been involved in an extended ovation I'd be interested to hear what really happens...