In the sun-drenched heart of the French Riviera, the 78th Cannes Film Festival unfurled its red carpet for a cinematic gem from Japan. On May 18, Ryosuke Yamada, the magnetic star of National Treasure, stood shoulder-to-shoulder with co-stars Ryusei Yokohama, Ken Watanabe, and director Sang-il Lee.
Their film, selected for the festival’s prestigious Directors’ Fortnight, ignited a fervor that left the Palais des Festivals trembling with applause.
The day began at 8:45 a.m., when National Treasure—a poignant tale woven around the ancient art of Kabuki—screened to a sold-out crowd. Tickets vanished faster than morning mist, and a restless queue of global cinephiles snaked outside the theater, their anticipation as palpable as the Mediterranean breeze. By 4:00 p.m., the official screening drew 820 souls, each eager to witness Japan’s cultural heartbeat laid bare onscreen.
Yamada, his voice steady yet brimming with pride, addressed the audience.
“To stand here, in this hallowed ground of cinema, and share a story of Kabuki with the world—it’s an honor that cuts deep,” he said.
He spoke of the grueling year-and-a-half journey he and Yokohama undertook to master the intricate dance of Kabuki, pouring their souls into a craft that demands both reverence and rebellion. The crowd leaned in, hanging on his words like sailors to a siren’s call.
As the final frame faded, the theater erupted. Claps thundered, cheers surged, and a chant of “KIKUO!”—a nod to Yamada’s character—echoed like a Kabuki crowd’s roar. For six unbroken minutes, the audience stood, their ovation a tidal wave of admiration.
Yamada and Yokohama locked in a fierce embrace, while Lee and Watanabe clasped hands, their faces alight with the kind of joy that only comes from a story well told. Tears glistened in their eyes, not of sorrow, but of a triumph too big for words.
“It’s like they felt every ounce of fire we poured into this film,” Yamada said later, his voice thick with emotion. “That kind of response—it hits you right in the chest.” Yokohama, still reeling, called the moment unforgettable. “That applause, that energy—it’s why I’m an actor. I’ll carry it with me always.” Watanabe, ever the sage, grinned and tapped his heart. “This place? It shakes you up, right here.”
National Treasure, set for release in Japan on June 6, isn’t just a film—it’s a testament to the enduring power of art, the kind that bridges oceans and sets hearts ablaze. Cannes didn’t just watch it; they felt it. And they’ll be talking about it for years to come.
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