Cannes 2025: Stars Reflect on Cinema's Emotional Power

Cannes Film Festival: Mescal and Hermanus Reflect on Impactful Screenings The 2025 Cannes Film Festival provided a backdrop for a poignant conversation between actor Paul Mescal and director Oliver Hermanus. Both shared their most memorable cinematic experiences at the festival. Mescal described the powerful emotional impact of a recent screening of "No Other Land", noting the audience's profound reaction. "Having a cultural moment like that with a film like that, which is so wildly upsetting to witness in a room," he shared. Hermanus, reflecting on the premiere of "The Tree of Life" eleven years prior, highlighted the sheer scale of the event and its lasting impression. He stated, "I'd never been to the Palais before. I'd never seen a film in that context. I'd never seen so many people in one room watching a movie." Their reflections offer a glimpse into the emotional power of cinema and the unique atmosphere of the Cannes Film Festival.