Sean Penn, guest of honor at this year’s Lumière Film Festival in Lyon, delivered an emotional tribute to Jack Nicholson, the lead actor of the film
“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,”
which opened the festival. Penn reflected on his admiration for Nicholson and the lasting impact the film has had since its 1975 release. Their shared history and Penn’s deep appreciation for Nicholson were central themes during his speech.
Memories of ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ and Collaborations with Nicholson
Recounting his first viewing of the film as a teenager in Los Angeles, Penn said it was a defining cinematic experience that he continues to hold in high regard. He described the film as timeless and firmly capable of engaging even younger audiences today.
“I heard my name a lot tonight,”
Sean Penn said.
“But I’ve been very comfortable with it in the sense that knowing ‘Cuckoo’s Nest’ was going to play, there was no question I was going to be able to find great humility under the circumstances. One of the great, magic moments in my life in cinema was the first time I saw Jack Nicholson in Miloš Forman’s ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.’”
Reflecting on their personal working relationship, Penn described Nicholson as a guiding presence during their collaborations on two films.
“I was very privileged in so much as being able to have worked with Jack twice,”
he shared.
“With both ‘The Pledge’ and ‘Crossing Guard,’ he was an angel on my shoulder and I still can’t quite get over, I still can’t quite imagine that McMurphy [Nicholson’s character in ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’] has worked with me,”
Penn smiled during the speech.
The Ongoing Relevance of Nicholson’s Work and Film Industry Observations
Penn emphasized the enduring relevance of
“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,”
joking about its appeal to young viewers despite the fast pace of modern entertainment. The screening was held in Lyon’s vast Tony Garnier concert hall, a key festival venue.
“There was a little cinema out by the beach in Los Angeles where I would go. At the time, in the late ‘70s, it seemed that each film that came out was sort of an event. But still, today, I wouldn’t think twice about sharing this movie with a 16 or 17 year-old because it would hold up – even with those that get bored very quickly,”
he quipped, drawing laughter from the audience.
When asked by Lumière director Thierry Frémaux about whether films of that nature could still be made today, Penn admitted he had long been critical of the film industry’s direction. Yet, he remains hopeful due to the presence of independent voices showcased at the festival.
“I have been part of the culture of complaint about where cinema has been going for a long time. But then things happen: there are two films that I am sharing here at the festival – ‘Manas’ and ‘Sentimental Value’ – and [when] you see what an independently minded director still does, ignoring all the complaints, you see it’s all still possible,”
he responded.
Festival Highlights: Premieres, Masterclass, and Celebrity Attendance
Earlier on the same day, Penn attended the Lyon premiere of Cannes Grand Prix winner “Sentimental Value” alongside director Joachim Trier. He is also presenting “Manas,” the debut feature by Marianna Brennand, in which he served as executive producer. His busy festival itinerary includes presenting a subtitled re-release of his 2007 film “Into the Wild” and leading a masterclass for Lumière attendees.
Introducing the opening film in the packed concert hall, Penn admitted he was overwhelmed by the scale of the event.
“I didn’t expect… [Thierry] didn’t explain to me how big this situation is, I didn’t realise it was like this…,”
he said.
This reaction highlights the festival’s significance, which draws hundreds of thousands of cinephiles to over 30 venues in and around Lyon.
Walking the red carpet before the opening ceremony, director Scott Cooper, who will premiere his new documentary “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere” at the festival, expressed enthusiasm for the Lumière Film Festival model.
“It’s wonderful, I wish we had more [festivals like this] everywhere,”
Cooper said, prompting actor Jeremy Allen White, star in Cooper’s film, to exclaim, “Lyon, the birthplace of cinema!”
In keeping with tradition, the festival’s 800 volunteers were honored with a procession accompanied by brass band music. Guests, including Penn, Cooper, White, Taiwanese actor and filmmaker Shu Qi, Laika Studios head Travis Knight, and acclaimed filmmakers Costa-Gavras, Valeria Golino, Dominique Blanc, and Bertrand Bonello, joined the opening ceremony by reading an opening sentence aloud amid laughter and applause.
Lumière Film Festival’s Continued Celebration of Cinema
The Lumière Film Festival continues its run through October 19, showcasing both classic and contemporary films while celebrating cinema’s past and future. Sean Penn’s reflections on Jack Nicholson and the films that have shaped their careers underscore the festival’s mission to honor enduring artistic achievement and inspire new generations of filmmakers and audiences alike.
