**Kelly Reichardt's "The Mastermind" Receives Enthusiastic Applause at Cannes Premiere**

Kelly Reichardt's "The Mastermind" made a resounding debut at the Cannes Film Festival, with the audience giving a 5.5-minute standing ovation. The 1970s-set film stars Josh O'Connor as an art thief whose life spirals out of control, and showcases O'Connor in nearly every scene. Alana Haim portrays his wife, who ultimately leaves with their twins when the authorities close in.

During the film's premiere, Reichardt, moved to tears, graciously accepted the sustained applause. As the ovation continued, she appeared eager to share her thoughts. Taking the microphone, she poignantly remarked, "America's in a ditch right now, but maybe we'll get out of it. But in the meantime we have the movies." Although "The Mastermind" doesn't overtly convey a political message, it is set during the Vietnam War, adding an underlying sense of urgency to O'Connor's character.

When the house lights rose, the audience's applause grew louder, with O'Connor's performance receiving the highest praise. This admiration likely extended from his acclaimed role in "The History of Sound," a film he couldn’t attend earlier in the festival due to commitments with a Steven Spielberg project. The crowd's affection for O'Connor was evident when an audience member shouted, "We love you, Josh," echoing similar admiration heaped on his co-star Paul Mescal earlier in the festival. Alana Haim also received a warm reception, supported by her sisters Danielle and Este Haim, who clapped enthusiastically from the row behind the cast.

"The Mastermind," according to its official synopsis, unfolds in a tranquil Massachusetts town circa 1970, where an unemployed carpenter attempts his first major art heist. As the plan goes awry, his life begins to fall apart. The cast includes John Magaro, Hope Davis, Bill Camp, Gaby Hoffmann, Eli Gelb, Cole Doman, Javion Allen, Matthew Maher, Rhenzy Feliz, and Ryan Homchick. Reichardt not only directed the film but also wrote the script.

This marks O'Connor's second film competing at Cannes this year, but it is his first time attending the festival. He also stars in Oliver Hermanus' "The History of Sound," a romantic drama set in 1919 New England, co-starring Paul Mescal. For Alana Haim, "The Mastermind" represents her debut at Cannes and her second feature film role following her breakout performance in Paul Thomas Anderson's "Licorice Pizza." Haim is set to appear in Anderson's next project, "One Battle After Another," as well as Kristoffer Borgli's "The Drama" alongside Zendaya and Robert Pattinson.