Guillaume Canet's thriller 'Karma', featuring Marion Cotillard, garnered a six-minute standing ovation at Cannes on Friday, premiering in the Special Screenings section.
Film Debut and Plot
'Karma' marks Canet's second directorial feature at Cannes, following 'Blood Ties'. The film is his sixth collaboration with Cotillard and marks a departure from their previous dramedies and family films. Cotillard stars as Jeanne, a French woman with a mysterious past. Her character is forced to return to a religious cult she once fled, after being implicated in her godson's disappearance in Spain.
Cast and Reception
Cotillard stars alongside Denis Menochet, Luis Zahera, and Leonardo Sbaraglia. During the ovation, Cotillard was visibly moved. Canet, holding back tears, praised her performance, declaring, "I wrote this role for you and you did it justice." He also commended Menochet and Zahera, stating, "I give you all three the greatest acting award in the world."
Personal and Professional Choices
Despite their recent divorce, Canet and Cotillard attended the gala with their son Marcel. In a Cannes interview, Cotillard discussed balancing work with parenting, influencing her decision to reduce Hollywood roles. "When I do a movie, I have this tendency to choose very deep and intense roles. There’s a part of me that goes away. That doesn’t really fit the life of a child," she shared.
Recent Projects and Sales
Cotillard's recent work includes a role in 'The Morning Show' and she has focused on European projects. She is also at Cannes for Bertrand Mandico's dramedy 'Roma Elastica'. 'Karma' is being handled by Pathé for international sales, aligning with Cannes' aim to showcase prominent French films.
Source: https://variety.com/2026/film/global/marion-cotillard-karma-ovation-cannes-1236750374/
