Every Cannes FIlm Festival goer knows that even with the highest priority badge, there is going to be a lot of waiting in line. Festival attendees are advised to arrive at least an hour before a screening, and upwards of two hours for the more highly anticipated films.
But knowing that everyone else has the same idea can lead some to stake out their spots much earlier.
This group of interns at the American Film Pavilion put down stakes at 18hr for the 22hr screening of Lost River, formerally How to Catch a Monster, Ryan Gosling's directorial debut. The group were not even the first: some of those in line in front of them arrived as early as 17hr, five hours before the screening.
While for some Ryan Gosling's name alone may be enough to generate such initiative, as the director and cast have taken to appearing at Salle Debussy for the late screenings of thier films, for this group it was a genuine passion for film. "The film just looks really good," they said, adding, "we're not some screaming fangirls."
From pre-releashed content, the cinephiles noted the film looked to strongly take after Gosling's 2013 film Only God Forgives by director Nicolas Winding Refn. Adding to its creditials is director of photography Benoît Debie, who worked on Spring Breakers and Irreversible and now Lost River.
While for some it would be preferrable to wait until the film is released in American theaters than to wait in the evening chill for four plus hours, it was the fact that it had not been released yet that cinched it for these viewers. Not for bragging rights, but rather because "there is always the possibility the film will be recut before being releashed in American". Seeing the original version is certainly an incentive these people at least can get behind.