Nigeria: Javier Bardem's 'The Beloved' Scores Seven-Minute Cannes Ovation

18 May 2026
Leadership (Abuja)
By Bukola Ogunsina

The movie 'El Ser Querido' (The Beloved), starring Oscar-winning actor Javier Bardem, received a thunderous reception at its Cannes premiere, with applause inside the Grand Théâtre Lumière lasting for seven minutes.

Following the screening, Bardem warmly embraced his castmates and director Rodrigo Sorogoyen as the audience continued cheering. A video from the moment has since circulated online.

The film was helmed by Sorogoyen from a screenplay he co-wrote alongside Isabel Peña. Also featured in the cast is Victoria Luengo, known for her role in The Room Next Door.

According to the official synopsis, 'El Ser Querido' follows an acclaimed film director and his daughter, an unsuccessful actress, who make a film together after years of estrangement and a painful history neither of them wishes to confront.

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Bardem remains one of Spain's most internationally recognised actors, with recent appearances in 'Dune: Part Two' and 'The Little Mermaid'. His latest Spanish-language project before 'El Ser Querido' was 'The Good Boss', directed by 'Fernando León de Aranoa', which earned him the Goya Award for Best Actor.

Luengo recently appeared in 'The Room Next Door', the English-language debut from Pedro Almodóvar. On television, she also starred in 'Riot Police', directed by Sorogoyen, a performance that secured her the Ondas Award for Best Actress.

Sorogoyen is perhaps best recognised internationally for 'The Beasts', which claimed nine Goya Awards in 2022.

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