Standing ovation

Chanelle turned her head around in bewilderment, tears still lingering in her eyes, but no more tears flowed. There was only a sense of confused perplexity left, as the ending came too swiftly, too forcefully, leaving her unable to react, uncertain about what had actually transpired.

Could it be that Paul wasn't supposed to be saved? Shouldn't this have been a Hollywood-style grand finale? Hadn't Dan already arrived at the scene? Didn't Paul assure Linda? Wasn't the rebel already captured? Didn't Paul send the video after cutting off his finger? Wasn't he supposed to have only three minutes left to be rescued?

But what had actually happened?

Hope had been too intense, disappointment too brutal. It fell like a heavy weight from midair, the impact of free fall shattering everything, causing the brain to freeze completely, stunned in place, dazed and confused.

Silence, the entire screening room was silent. Even the sound of breathing seemed to have vanished.

Chanelle turned her head and saw Tessa slumped, her shoulders drooping as if her soul had been sucked away, leaving behind an empty shell of a Barbie doll. She sat there, tears on her cheeks still un-wiped, a trace of vulnerability and confusion in her expression, truly heart-wrenching. Yet now, Chanelle was also too preoccupied to care.

Gavin sat heavily in his chair, his brain completely frozen, his mouth agape, his eyes wide and unblinking as he stared at the darkness on the big screen. Darkness, another expanse of darkness, consistent with the opening scene. Gavin couldn't help but strain his ears, trying to catch any sound, even the faintest rustle. But this time, he failed. That pure silence, devoid of any impurity, brought an uncontrollable sense of horror and fear. The feeling of drowning resurfaced once again.

Daisy Lucas forced her mouth open and took deep breaths, because darkness swarmed in from all sides like a tidal wave. It was as if she were in that coffin, taking Paul's place. She needed to breathe, only that could remind her, "I'm still alive."

But her breaths became too hurried, causing her to start coughing. The burning sensation in her lungs brought a faint ache, but this made Daisy smile. Because this pain proved her existence, affirmed the reality of her life.

In fact, Daisy had already guessed this ending when the military destroyed the nearby base. But after experiencing so many twists and turns, after the revival of hope, the arrival of death came too suddenly. The emotions came to an abrupt halt, leaving everyone suspended in midair before plummeting rapidly. Fear easily dismantled each person's defenses.

Upon careful reflection of the entire movie, she initially thought her mind would be a chaotic mess, incapable of recalling anything. Surprisingly, every detail was vividly playing back in her mind, so real that it created an illusion of having experienced everything firsthand.

And indeed, it was the case. Under the director's precise control, amid the cleverly crafted atmosphere, especially with the brilliant performances of the actors, everything was so real, so astounding. Daisy's pupils suddenly blossomed with a revelation—Renly Hall.

Renly's performance was truly... indescribably splendid. She couldn't even find the right words to express it. Within that performance, so nuanced and vivid yet full of explosive power, she followed along with Renly through every moment—sharpness of death, heat of hope, numbness of fear, and icy coldness of despair. Her soul truly experienced an epic shock!

Lifting her head, Daisy looked around. The entire screening room was silent, even the movie screen was shrouded in stillness. The credits hadn't rolled yet, and the surge brought by this silence was the perfect portrayal of the film's unparalleled brilliance. Then Daisy couldn't contain herself any longer. She turned her head and saw the first name appear on the screen: "Director: Rodrigo Cortés." The faint glimmer of that name seemed incapable of bearing the weight of the entire darkness, but for Daisy, it was enough.

She stood up.

Suddenly, she stood up and applauded. She clapped vigorously, even as her palms began to ache. But she didn't relax, instead she clapped harder. The excitement, exhilaration, joy, shock, fear, and happiness suppressed within her chest burst forth, the ecstasy of escaping death settling down. In its place was the excitement of returning to reality. "Buried" was truly exceptional. Only in this way could she express the loftiest respect from her heart!

Although, in Daisy's view, Renly's performance was even more brilliant. But who cared at this moment? Applause, whistles, cheers, worship—they were enough.

It was only now that Gavin finally came to his senses. It was a movie, everything was a movie, a fictional story within the confines of the screen, not reality. Journalists and colleagues around him began to stand up, one by one, all looking at the big screen, clapping forcefully. Then the applause suddenly spiraled out of control, accompanied by screams and whistles. Reflexively, Gavin followed their gaze toward the screen and saw a name:

Paul Conroy: Renly Hall.

Gavin couldn't hold back either. He jumped up all of a sudden and clapped wildly. The collision of palm against palm unleashed passion and magic. It expressed all the complicated emotions within him. Biting his lower lip, he whistled along with everyone else, applauding Renly wholeheartedly.

Brilliant, it was not only brilliant but incredibly brilliant! This was Gavin's only thought at this moment. Even though he had mentally prepared himself, even though he had raised his expectations, the result far surpassed imagination. This was simply... fucking amazing! Besides profanity, there were no words that could accurately convey his feelings right now.

Chanelle finally snapped back to reality. Tears had streamed down her face during the movie, but as the ending approached, she had fallen into a state of confusion, as if drifting aimlessly without a foothold. It wasn't until this moment that she finally touched down. Countless scenes flashed through her mind: the astonishment and panic in the youth hostel, Renly's elegance and humor on the red carpet, the mesmerizing performance on the big screen... In the end, everything transformed into those deep brown eyes.

"Clap clap clap!" Chanelle clapped vigorously. She tried to stand up but found her legs giving way, causing her to plop back into her chair. This feeling of weakness made Chanelle chuckle dumbly, then burst into laughter. Didn't this just prove how amazing the movie was? She liked this feeling, to be precise, she loved this feeling.

Adjusting her strength, she stood up and raised her hands again, joining the ranks of the audience. Turning her head, Chanelle saw the bright eyes of Tessa, her face beaming with a delighted smile. Tessa shouted loudly, "Renly is so handsome!" These straightforward and simple words made Chanelle burst into laughter.

Stand up! The entire audience rose to their feet, applauding collectively. No one was exempt. The thunderous applause poured down like crashing waves. The screening room, which could only accommodate three hundred people, felt like a small boat in a storm, teetering dangerously. It seemed as if the entire building was trembling, causing strong doubts. This was truly too terrifying!

But the audience still wasn't satisfied. Amidst the applause, shouts and whistles were incessant. Only by shouting and expressing themselves to the fullest, only by cheering to the fullest, could they convey their true emotions. This wasn't Canadian politeness and courtesy, nor was it film festival etiquette and social interaction. This was genuine praise, it was the heartfelt admiration.

Applause roared through the screening room like a continuous tide, seemingly without an end.

As the lights in the screening room slowly brightened, the excited faces were all adorned with similar expressions: joy, excitement, exhilaration, and happiness. This was the true essence of a film festival. It gathered film enthusiasts together, allowing them to enjoy the joys and sorrows brought by films, truly experiencing the charm of cinema.

The applause was incredibly fervent and loud, and it battered Renly's eardrums to the point of a dull ache. The intense sound pierced through eardrums and skin, resonating in the depths of his soul, bursting forth with unimaginable shock. It obliterated all thoughts in his mind and brought an unprecedented impact.

His chest resonated with emotions and happiness. This allowed Renly to truly feel satisfied. It filled his entire chest, all his veins, his whole brain, and even his entire soul to the brim, almost overflowing. This was why he loved acting. He could present different lives through acting, guide the audience into different worlds, and bridge the gap between art and life.

Renly could clearly feel the weight on his shoulders. All his companions stood up one by one and turned toward him, applauding to pay their respects and congratulations. The faces, the clapping, the gazes—all of it, heavy as it landed on his shoulders, almost took his breath away.

Standing up, turning around, he could see the continuous waves of heat in his line of sight. It was spectacular, rendering one speechless. Words truly fell short. Only by calming down, sincerely experiencing it, could one truly understand the madness and enthusiasm of this moment, and grasp its uniqueness.

Listen! The applause that resonated endlessly was so beautiful. Clap, and then clap again, hitting forcefully. Renly had almost no resistance. In an instant, his eyes welled up with warmth. Even during his Emmy Award win, he hadn't felt such overwhelming emotions, it caught him off guard.

"Clap clap clap! Clap clap clap!" The scorching and frenzied sound seemed as if it would never stop.

God, he loved this moment's beauty so much. He was so infatuated with the frenzy of the film festival, so deeply in love with acting.