Spike Lee gave Denzel Washington a special award before their new movie Highest 2 Lowest was shown at the Cannes Film Festival on Monday. Getty Images
Director Spike Lee and actor Denzel Washington returned to the spotlight at the Cannes Film Festival on Monday. They’ve worked together for 35 years, starting with Mo’ Better Blues and most famously Malcolm X. But this was the first time the two walked the Cannes red carpet together.
Denzel Receives a Big Surprise
The big surprise came before their new movie Highest 2 Lowest premiered. Cannes Festival’s Thierry Fremaux shocked the crowd by announcing that Denzel Washington would receive an honorary Palme d'Or. The crowd at the Grand Theatre Lumiere erupted into cheers as clips from Washington’s career played on screen. His powerful role in Training Day got the loudest applause.
Spike Lee Gives the Award
Spike Lee joined Denzel on stage, wearing a bright pinstripe suit in New York Knicks colors. The outfit looked like a nod to what he wore in Malcolm X, where he also acted alongside Denzel.
After Lee spoke a few words, he handed the Palme d’Or to his longtime friend.
“Sit down please,” Denzel told the cheering audience. “This is a total surprise for me, so I feel emotional. But from the bottom of my heart, I thank you all. It was a great opportunity to collaborate with my brother once again – my brother from another mother, Spike.”
New Film Inspired by a Classic
Highest 2 Lowest is a new take on the 1963 Japanese film High and Low, made by legendary director Akira Kurosawa. The original story focused on a businessman whose driver’s son is kidnapped instead of his own.
Spike Lee changed the setting. Denzel Washington plays a music mogul in New York City, known for having the best ear in the business. His driver, played by Jeffrey Wright, is a former prisoner trying to stay out of trouble. A$AP Rocky appears as a rising rapper named Yung Felon, who hopes Denzel’s character will notice him.
A Touch of Star Power
The premiere had extra star power when A$AP Rocky’s partner, Rihanna, arrived to support the film. After the movie ended, the audience gave a long standing ovation to Lee and the cast. But Denzel didn’t stay long. He left the screening early, holding his award, and flew back to New York to continue performing in Othello on Broadway.
A line from the film seems to match his quiet exit: “You can’t exit the same way you entered,” says a character to Denzel’s mogul.
Movie Release Dates
Highest 2 Lowest will hit theaters in the United States on August 22. It will stream on Apple TV+ starting September 5. The Cannes Film Festival will continue until May 24.
