Seventy-two-year-old John Travolta journeyed to Cannes to present his directorial debut, “Propeller: A Tale from the Crypts,” out of competition. The film’s protagonist, a young aviation enthusiast named Jeff, travels intercontinentally with his mother, aiming to reach Hollywood. The movie clocks in at just 61 minutes and is adapted from a children’s book Travolta penned back in 1997. On May 29th, the film is set to premiere on the Apple TV platform (and, without question, will swiftly surface on Russian pirate sites).
Before the screening, Travolta was unexpectedly awarded an honorary Palme d’Or, recognizing his entire career achievements. The festival’s management had kept this a secret from everyone, including Travolta himself. “Surprise completement!” (“A total surprise!”) he exclaimed in French. Then, clutching the award, he became visibly emotional right there on stage. “I can’t believe this. This is the last thing I anticipated,” he stated, offering his thanks to festival director Thierry Frémaux: “This means more than an Oscar!”
It was revealed that Travolta had met with Frémaux back in November. “I never imagined my film would be included in the official festival program. And when Thierry mentioned it wasn’t just included, but would make history by being the first film selected this early, I wept like a child because I simply couldn’t process it. In my view, you are the most discerning individual in the film industry… I was so thrilled to be here! I truly didn’t expect this at all.”
This year, the honorary Palme d’Or was also bestowed upon director Peter Jackson and Barbra Streisand; however, unlike Travolta, they had been forewarned about the honor in advance.
Travolta extended his gratitude to his sister Ellen, who served as the inspiration for the character in “Propeller,” noting that he incorporated elements of his mother into the role as well. “Both of them profoundly influenced me; they are responsible for all my hopes and dreams, and they watched me bring them to reality.” Furthermore, one of the roles in the production was filled by Travolta’s 26-year-old daughter, Ella Bleu.
Previously, Travolta’s appearances at the Cannes Film Festival were largely concentrated in the 90s, during his peak period, to promote films like “Pulp Fiction” (1994), “She’s So Lovely” (1997), and “Primary Colors” (1998). This time, he also captured the attention of fashion critics by debuting an elegant ivory beret that suited him perfectly and seemed to shave a decade off his appearance.
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