'Lusty boos' greet Gus Van Sant's new film at Cannes
The Sea of Trees was heavily mocked on Twitter following screenings which saw critics 'deservedly' booing and hissing
<br> It it known for its passionate and often brutal reception to new films, and this year's Cannes Film Festival has proved no exception as the first film of 2015 was roundly booed in two screenings in one night.
The Sea of Trees, starring Matthew McConaughey and Naomi Watts, received what has been described as "lusty" boos and hisses as it debuted in Cannes.
It is the first blood drawn of the 2015 festival, which has so far seen a rapturous welcome for Mad Max: Fury Road, and polite if quiet enthusiasm for The Lobster, Tale of Tales and Standing Tall.
The Sea of Trees, however, was the focus of "passionate and deserved" boos, as critics issued scathing reviews.
One member of the audience said: "First loud boos of #Cannes2015 for Gus Van Sant's The Sea of Trees. Guy next to me was hissing as credits rolled."
The film tells the story of a suicidal man who travels to a wood to end it all before meeting a fellow traveller and embarking on a journey of "reflection and survival".
The reaction, detailed gleefully on Twitter at the end of each press screening, was not witnessed by the actors, who return for an official premiere the following day where the reaction is likely to be politer.
The film, directed by Gus Van Sant, is in competition for the Palme D'Or this year.
The Telegraph awarded it two stars, proclaiming it "blighted by ridiculous contrivances and overwrought performances".
Tim Robey said one twist in the storyline was "a head-slapping insult to credibility, a real boo-from-the-back-of-the-house shocker".
The cast and director were sanguine about the response at a later press conference.
McConaughey said critics had "as much right to boo as to ovate", while Van Sant pointed out it could be worse: a screening in years gone by had seen a punch-up thanks to heated debate afterwards.
