If you approach Cannes with a sense of humor, nothing is that

In the grand theater of life, there are moments when we are faced with experiences that seem so overwhelming, so grand, that we are at risk of losing ourselves in the seriousness of it all. Yet, as Mathieu Amalric wisely said, "If you approach Cannes with a sense of humor, nothing is that bad. You have to take it for what it is; otherwise, it’s silly." These words are a reminder that life, with all its challenges and complexities, must be met not with rigid expectations, but with an open heart and a willingness to see the humor in the absurdities. The Cannes Film Festival, a pinnacle of the cinematic world, is a celebration of art, but it is also a microcosm of the human condition—with all its pretensions, its chaos, and yes, its delightful moments of folly. In this, Amalric invites us to engage with life not through the lens of sacred seriousness, but with a touch of lightness and humor that allows us to navigate even the most daunting challenges.

The ancients understood this truth well. Socrates, the great philosopher, often approached the deepest questions of existence with a sense of irony and humor, recognizing that the search for wisdom was as much about laughter as it was about inquiry. Humor, in his view, was a tool for peeling back the layers of pretense that cloud human perception. In the same way, Amalric suggests that in the high-stakes environment of Cannes, the only way to endure is through the embrace of humor—a perspective that allows us to see the world not as a rigid, solemn place, but as one full of unexpected moments, contradictions, and opportunities for laughter. To approach Cannes with a heavy heart would be to miss the point entirely. The festival, with its glitz and glamour, is as much a reflection of human vanity as it is a celebration of true artistic achievement. By taking it all in stride, with humor and grace, we can avoid the trap of taking ourselves too seriously.

The ancient hero Hercules, often burdened by great trials and challenges, knew this well. In his legendary twelve labors, Hercules was tested by gods, monsters, and impossible tasks. Yet, in many of the trials, he demonstrated not just strength, but a sharp wit and an ability to find humor in the absurdity of his predicament. When faced with the Augean stables, a seemingly impossible task, he did not crumble in despair. Instead, he solved the challenge with cleverness, and in the process, he revealed that even the most arduous tasks could be approached with creativity and a bit of humor. Like Hercules, Amalric suggests that we, too, must learn to see the world’s challenges—not as burdens, but as moments to engage with wit and lightness.

In our own lives, we often find ourselves in situations that demand great dignity and seriousness, and while there is a time for earnestness, the ancients also recognized that humor is a vital force for the soul. Plato, in his writings, spoke of the balance between the philosophical life and the joy of celebration, recognizing that while one must ponder deeply the meaning of existence, one must also laugh at the contradictions of life. In the same spirit, Amalric suggests that if we take ourselves too seriously, we risk losing the very joy that makes life worth living. The Cannes Film Festival, with its moments of grandeur and chaos, reflects this ancient wisdom. The celebrities, the critics, and the filmmakers might be caught up in the whirlwind of competition and prestige, but those who can stand apart and laugh at the spectacle are the ones who truly understand the deeper meaning of the festival—and of life itself.

Humor does not come from ignoring the gravity of life’s events; rather, it comes from embracing them with an awareness that we are all part of a much larger story—one that is filled with both triumphs and failures, with glory and absurdity. Haruki Murakami, the great Japanese writer, has often spoken about the balance between melancholy and joy in his works, and how it is through humor that we can navigate the deepest of emotions without becoming consumed by them. In the same way, Amalric’s view of Cannes speaks to the ability to recognize the humor in even the most serious of events. To do so is not to diminish the significance of the occasion, but to acknowledge that life is never simply about grand gestures or monumental moments. It is about the quiet moments of levity that offer us relief and a deeper connection to one another.

So, what can we learn from Amalric’s words? The great lesson is this: in a world that often demands our seriousness and our full commitment, we must also find time to lighten our hearts. Humor, in all its forms, is not a distraction from reality, but a way to engage more fully with it. Whether in the midst of a grand festival or the quiet moments of our daily lives, we must learn to approach the world with grace, humor, and understanding. As the ancients taught, the ability to laugh at life’s absurdities does not diminish our dignity or our purpose—it enhances them, revealing to us the deeper truths of our shared humanity.

Thus, let us take this wisdom forward in our own lives. Let us approach the festivals, the trials, and the tasks of our existence with humor, not as a means of escape, but as a means of engagement. Life, in all its grandeur and folly, asks us to see the beauty not just in its serious moments, but in its absurdities. As Amalric reminds us, if we can embrace life’s spectacles with a sense of humor, we will find that nothing is truly as heavy as it seems. In this, we will discover the strength to face whatever comes our way, with both joy and dignity.