Dakota Johnson and Michael Angelo Covino's Open Marriage Comedy ‘Splitsville' Cracks Up Cannes, Earning 6-Minute Standing Ovation
Michael Angelo Covino's open marriage comedy 'Splitsville' brought much-needed laughter to Cannes on Monday night, earning a warm six-minute ovation.
As the applause roared, director Covino teared up and Dakota Johnson comforted him with a hug as he kissed her on the cheek.
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It was Johnson's first time in Cannes, but as a Venice Film Festival veteran she's no stranger to applause. Even still, she humbly waved off the cheers when the camera panned to her first. Then, when Arjona got her roar of approval, her boyfriend Jason Momoa could be seen clapping enthusiastically in the row behind her. Covina and Marvin shared a brotherly embrace as they celebrated another well-received collaboration.
'We need to keep making comedies for Cannes, plain and simple. Because laughter should be seen in a theater, not on a television screen,' said Covino.
The premiere drew several high-profile filmmakers, including Ari Aster and last year's Palme d'Or winner Sean Baker.
'Splitsville' follows two couples, made up of Johnson and Covino and Adria Arjona and Kyle Marvin. According to the film's official logline: 'When Ashley (Arjona) asks for a divorce, the good-natured Carey (Marvin) runs to his friends, Julie (Johnson) and Paul (Covino), for support. Their secret to happiness is an open marriage; that is, until Carey crosses the line and throws all of their relationships into chaos.'
The cast also includes Nicholas Braun, David Castañeda, Charlie Gillespie, Simon Webster, Stephen Adekolu, Tyrone Benskin and O-T Fagbenle. Marvin and Covino penned the script, and Johnson served as a producer with her TeaTime Pictures co-founder Ro Donnelly.
Ahead of its debut in Cannes' Premiere section, 'Splitsville' was acquired by Neon, which has notably distributed the last five Palme d'Or winners: Bong Joon Ho's 'Parasite,' Julia Ducournau's 'Titane,' Ruben Östlund's 'Triangle of Sadness,' Justine Triet's 'Anatomy of a Fall' and Sean Baker's 'Anora.'
'Splitsville' marks Covino's sophomore feature following 2019's 'The Climb,' which he also starred in and wrote alongside Marvin. 'The Climb,' which follows two friends on a biking trip whose relationship is fractured by infidelity, premiered in Cannes' Un Certain Regard section and was eventually released in 2020 by Sony Pictures Classics.
'Splitsville' will premiere in theaters on Aug. 22 via Neon.
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