Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem’s ‘Bunker’ gets 15-minute standing ovation at Venice
The film 'Bunker', starring Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem, received a 15-minute standing ovation at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival. Directed by Florian Zeller, the psychological thriller explores the impact of a professional project on a marriage.
Why it matters
The film is a significant entry in the Golden Lion competition and marks a notable collaboration between two high-profile actors.
Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem ’s psychological thriller, Bunker , got a 15 minute standing ovation at the ongoing 83rd Venice International Film Festival on Tuesday (September 8, 2026).
After the screening of the Florian Zeller directorial, both Penelope and Javier were seen getting emotional with the overwhelming response as Penelope kissed Javier, her husband and co-star.
Bunker stars the two as a married couple and explores how a professional decision begins to have consequences on their relationship. Javier plays an architect in it, who accepts a project to build a bunker for a billionaire which begins to impact his marriage. The film also features Stephen Graham, Paul Dano, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Chloe Conh, Leah Conh and Mark Gatiss in pivotal roles.
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