The highly anticipated film, "The Apprentice," took center stage at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on Monday night, marking its world premiere. The movie, directed by acclaimed Iranian-Danish filmmaker Ali Abbasi and written by Gabe Sherman, delves into Donald Trump's rise to power in 1980s America under the influence of the firebrand right-wing attorney Roy Cohn.

Starring Sebastian Stan as a young version of the real estate mogul, the film attracted immense pre-premiere chatter and curiosity at the prestigious French film festival. The excitement surrounding the movie was further intensified as virtually no one had seen it prior to the premiere, given that it was reportedly finished only days before the event.

Ali Abbasi, Sebastian Stan, Martin Donovan, and Maria Bakalova graced the Cannes red carpet for the premiere. However, Jeremy Strong, who portrays the notorious political fixer Roy Cohn, was notably absent. The star-studded cast received praise for their performances, with Stan's transformative portrayal of Trump drawing the loudest applause from the enthusiastic Cannes audience.

The screening of "The Apprentice" unveiled several shocking moments, prompting audible gasps from the premiere crowd. Scenes depicting Trump's alleged rape of his first wife, Ivana, and a surgery room sequence featuring Trump undergoing liposuction left a lasting impact on viewers. As the film reached its conclusion, the audience spontaneously erupted into applause, synchronizing their claps with the sound of Baccara's "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" on the soundtrack.

Director Ali Abbasi expressed his gratitude towards the cast members and appreciated the support from renowned actress Cate Blanchett, who was among the first to rise and applaud while embracing Maria Bakalova. The enthusiastic response to the film resulted in an eight-minute standing ovation, although some attendees were seen leaving the theater at the four-minute mark.

Abbasi, in his address to the crowd, touched upon global turmoil, highlighting the importance of confronting and dealing with challenges rather than ignoring them. He justified his decision to create a movie centered on Trump, emphasizing the need for films to be relevant and political in today's world.

Despite the buzz surrounding "The Apprentice," the film has yet to secure a U.S. distributor. However, it has already been acquired by StudioCanal for the U.K. and Ireland markets, with a theatrical release scheduled for later this year. International sales for the movie are being handled by Rocket Science.

Financed by Kinematics, Head Gear Films, Screen Ireland, Film i Vast, the Danish Film Institute, and the National Bank of Canada, "The Apprentice" boasts a notable production team. Daniel Bekerman produces for Scythia Films, alongside Jacob Jarek for Profile Pictures, Ruth Treacy, and Julianne Forde for Tailored Films, and Abbasi and Louis Tisné for Film Institute. The film also features an array of executive producers.

With its controversial subject matter and powerful performances, "The Apprentice" has undoubtedly made a lasting impression at the Cannes Film Festival, solidifying its status as one of the most talked-about films of the event.