Gentle Monster, the latest work by Austrian director Marie Kreutzer, made its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. This dark and disturbing drama is competing in the festival's official selection, and it received an enthusiastic response from the audience, particularly due to the presence of lead actress Léa Seydoux on screen. The film was met with a six-minute standing ovation, which concluded when Kreutzer took the microphone to address the attendees. Had this not happened, the applause might have lasted even longer.

The film's premise is quite heavy: the woman, played by Seydoux, is in a happy marriage and is the mother of a small child, but her life is turned upside down when her husband (Laurence Rupp) is arrested on charges of possessing and distributing child pornography. It is not immediately clear whether her husband was involved in the production of this material or if their own children are affected by the situation, but the woman knows that her life will never return to how it was. During this process, while the investigation into her husband continues, the woman and her child find temporary refuge at her mother's (Catherine Deneuve) house.

Gentle Monster stands out as one of the strongest competition films shown at this year's festival and has significant potential to be a major contender for the international Best Film Oscar. Seydoux's performance, as one of the most remarkable stars of French cinema, could play a crucial role in this awards race. While the film offers viewers a profound emotional experience, it also highlights social issues.