The Cannes Film Festival 2026 has just witnessed one of those moments that remain engraved in the history of cinema. El Ser Querido (The Beloved, in English), the new gem from Spanish director Rodrigo Sorogoyen, not only met expectations, it smashed them.
After the gala screening, the Grand Théâtre Lumière burst into a standing ovation of more than 7 minutes, leaving the film’s crew visibly moved and the film world at the feet of its star: the incomparable Javier Bardem.
Javier Bardem at Cannes 2026
#JavierBardem and the cast of “The Beloved” receive a 7-minute standing ovation at #Cannes.https://t.co/g3GXYwV7Ou pic.twitter.com/2X3RWinnI1
– Variety (@Variety) May 16, 2026
The excitement was palpable.
Rodrigo Sorogoyen, with misty eyes, could not help but lean on his main screenwriter, Isabel Peña, while Javier Bardem and a brilliant Victoria Luengo embraced under a shower of applause.
“Viva España!” exclaimed the director to the complicit gaze of another great, Juan Antonio Bayona, who did not want to miss the premiere.
The film tells the heartbreaking story of a film director (Bardem) who tries to rebuild his relationship with the daughter he abandoned (Luengo).
What looks like a family drama becomes, under Sorogoyen’s lens, an exercise in pure tension.
International critics: “The most terrifying Bardem”.
Rapturous ovation for ‘The Beloved’ starring a sublime Javier Bardem in #Cannes.
The actor greets and hugs his cast mates and director pic.twitter.com/WJQmDcrHmk
– Deadline (@DEADLINE) May 16, 2026
If the ovation was loud, the expert reviews have been unanimous.
The specialized press already places Bardem as the undisputed favorite to win the award for Best Actor, an award he has already won for Biutiful.
The Guardian: It calls the performances “outstanding” and says Bardem delivers his most haunting role since his legendary Anton Chigurh in ‘No Country For Old Men’.
Variety: Celebrates the return of the “magnetic and unmistakably aggressive” Bardem, noting his ability to be both charismatic and ruthless at the same time.
The Hollywood Reporter: Describes the film as an excellent example of the “art of unease,” a personal hallmark that Sorogoyen has perfected.
French critics have already begun to place their bets, noting that the “audacity” of the proposal and the intensity of the power dynamics on the set depicted in the film put it in pole position for the top awards.
Do you think Javier Bardem will win his second award at Cannes or is the competition very strong this year?
Filed under: Javier Bardem Cannes 2026
