As the crowd stood in rapturous applause, a visibly moved Harrison Ford stood on the stage, trying to keep his emotions in check.
The warmth of the audience and a clip reel that had just played had left Ford shaken.
鈥淭hey say that when you鈥檙e about to die, you see your life flash before your eyes,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd I just saw my life flash before my eyes 鈥� a great part of my life, but not all of my life.鈥�
If last year鈥檚 Cannes was partially defined by this year鈥檚 has belonged to Ford. This time, it鈥檚 been far more poignant. Ford, 80, is retiring Indiana Jones, saying goodbye to the iconic swashbuckling archeologist more than 40 years after he first debuted, with fedora, whip and a modest snake phobia.
It鈥檚 been a moving farewell tour 鈥� most of all for Ford, who has teared up frequently along the way. Speaking to reporters Friday, Ford was asked: Why give up Indy now?
鈥淚s it not evident?鈥� he replied with a characteristically sheepish grin. 鈥淚 need to sit down and rest a little bit. I love to work. And I love this character. And I love what it brought into my life. That鈥檚 all I can say.鈥�
鈥淚ndiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,鈥� the fifth Indiana Jones film, bringing an affecting coda to the franchise begun with 1981鈥檚 鈥淩aiders of the Lost Ark.鈥� While that film and the next three were all directed by Steven Spielberg from a story by George Lucas, Ford鈥檚 final chapter is directed and co-written by James Mangold,
The gala, one of the most sought-after tickets at Cannes this year, also included an honorary Palme d鈥橭r given to Ford. The next day, Ford was still struggling to articulate the experience of unveiling his final turn as Indiana Jones.
鈥淚t was indescribable. I can鈥檛 even tell you,鈥� said Ford. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just extraordinary to see a kind of relic of your life as it passes by.鈥�
Following the disappointment of 2008鈥檚 little-loved 鈥淚ndiana Jones and the Crystal Skull,鈥� the possibilities for a fifth film lingered for years and went through many iterations. Ford said he was intent on seeing a different, less youthful version of Jones. 鈥淒ial of Destiny鈥� is set in the 1960s and finds Indiana as a retiring professor whose long-ago exploits no longer seem so special in the age of space exploration.
鈥淚 wanted to see the weight of life on him. I wanted to see him require reinvention and support. And I wanted him to have a relationship that was not a flirty movie relationship,鈥� said Ford, who stars alongside Phoebe Waller-Bridge. 鈥淚 wanted an equal relationship.鈥�
Ford is clearly deeply pleased with the movie. He was especially complimentary of his castmates and Mangold, whom he said did more than 鈥渇ill the shoes that Steven left for us.鈥�
鈥淓verything has come together to support me in my old age,鈥� said Ford with a wry grin.
The movie begins with an extended sequence set back in the final days of WWII. In those scenes, Ford has been de-aged to appear much younger. Lucasfilm chief Kathleen Kennedy was quick to say that an AI-crafted Ford won鈥檛 be used by the company in the future. Ford called the employment of a de-aged version of him 鈥渟killed and assiduous鈥� 鈥� and didn鈥檛 make him jealous.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 look back and say I wish I was that guy. I鈥檓 real happy with age,鈥� said Ford. He then added, with an expletive, that it could be worse. 鈥淚 could be dead.鈥�
Ford isn鈥檛 retiring from acting. He has two ongoing TV series (鈥淪hrinking,鈥� 鈥�1923鈥�) and he said he remains committed to working.
鈥淢y luck has been been to work with incredibly talented people and find my way into this crowd of geniuses and not get my ass kicked out,鈥� said Ford. 鈥淎nd I鈥檝e apparently still got a chance to work and I want that. I need that in my life, that challenge.鈥�
Ford, like Indiana, isn鈥檛 departing without his hat. He鈥檚 kept one, Ford said, but he more prizes the experience of making the films. 鈥淭he stuff is great but it鈥檚 not about the stuff.鈥�
And Ford can still turn heads. One female reporter declared that the 80-year-old was 鈥渟till hot鈥� and asked Ford 鈥� who briefly appears shirtless in the movie 鈥� how he stays fit. After a few chuckles and some mention of his avid cycling, Ford answered with mock pomposity.
鈥淚鈥檝e been blessed with this body,鈥� he replied. 鈥淭hanks for noticing.鈥�
鈥擩ake Coyle, The Associated Press
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