See why Spike Lee’s ‘BlacKkKlansman’ received a 6 minute standing ovation at Cannes

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Based on the reaction it received at Cannes, Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman, is destined to be a hit.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, during its world premiere at the highly esteemed film festival, the audience broke out in applause about a half-dozen times. And were so moved by the the end of the film, that they clapped for four minutes during the credits and then stood up for a six-minute standing ovation.

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“The evening was poised to be dramatic if not redemptive given that Lee was famously overlooked for the Palme d’Or in 1989 for Do the Right Thing,” notes the Hollywood Reporter. “The prize was awarded that year to Steven Soderbergh’s sex, lies, and videotape. Over the ensuing years, Lee has made no secret of his disappointment with that year’s jury president, Wim Wenders.”

Clearly in high spirits, right before the film premiered, instead of give an opening statement, the director instead chose to call out to those in the balcony: “Brooklyn in the house!”

The film’s trailer was released Monday, and stars John David Washington (son of Denzel and Pauletta) who plays a black police officer who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan in the 1970s. Adam Driver, Topher Grace and Laura Harrier also star in it.

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“Backed by Blumhouse and ‘Get Out’ auteur Jordan Peele, ‘BlacKkKlansman’ is also the best thing the director has made in a dozen years (since HBO miniseries ‘When the Levees Broke’) and a welcome throwback to the days when Lee’s movies struck a nerve in the cultural conversation,” opines a film critic in Variety. “Call it ‘How Spike Got His Groove Back,’ and don’t be surprised if the movie proves to be one of the summer’s breakout hits.”

Making this feature even more timely and culturally significant is the fact that Lee has decided to release it on August 10th, the one-year anniversary of the Charlottesville, Va., white nationalist rally.

Check out the trailer below.

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