Coppola Presents George Lucas With Honorary Palme d’Or as the Iconic Directors Reflect on ‘Association of a Lifetime’
Oscar winners George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola reflected on their lifelong bond as the Megalopolis director presented the Star Wars visionary with Cannes Fest’s honorary Palme d’Or on Saturday night.
My Oscar Book:
Before Lucas received the award, he was greeted in the theater by a lengthy standing ovation, during which he gave the crowd a thumbs-up and got a little teary-eyed.
When Coppola came on stage, the two embraced and exchanged some private remarks.
In his speech, Coppola recalled his first meeting with Lucas, who shadowed him on the set of his film Finian’s Rainbow in 1968.
“Pleased to have someone in my own generation, I suggested he come every day, but only on one condition: That he come up with a brilliant suggestion every day, which he consistently did. And with that began an association that has lasted a lifetime,” Coppola said. “And he went on and on, making film history, story history, business history and now history in France.”
Star Wars
Looking back on his nearly 60 years in the film industry, Lucas added that “it’s definitely a different world” now.
“I’ve actually never made a film in Hollywood as a director, so it’s a real honor to be here,” he concluded. “Thank you so much.”
At a conversation at the festival on Friday, Lucas discussed some of the criticism he received of the first six “Star Wars” films over the years.
“They would say, ‘It’s all white men,’” Lucas said of the films’ critics. “Most of the people are aliens! The idea is you’re supposed to accept people for what they are, whether they’re big and furry or whether they’re green or whatever. The idea is all people are equal.”
