The red carpet guide clearly stated: Red is not suitable.
The reason is obvious—when wearing red on a red carpet, even with different shades, it becomes difficult to stand out. If you're not careful, you might blend into the background.
This is basic knowledge, something anyone can figure out without needing expert advice.
And this is especially true for men. Besides black, white, and gray, only blue is somewhat safe. Any other color is risky.
Red?
Of course, some brave souls try to dazzle by breaking the mold, but reality is often harsh. More often than not, it ends in failure.
A total disaster.
That's why wearing red on the red carpet is such a challenge. It's not a strict taboo, but it's a risky move for the pioneers daring enough to try.
You either astonish everyone or end up looking awful.
There's no middle ground. Every person who dares to try is a warrior.
Sadly, there aren't many warriors.
That was true until tonight.
Emmanuel realized for the first time how red could be so bold yet so elegant, so passionate yet so cool, so vibrant yet so calm. Contradictory words collided, creating an emotional explosion.
And then, it destroyed reason.
A red shirt. A red suit. Deep rose-red—intense and pure—yet, because of the tailoring, lines, and the model's aura, it took on a different vibe.
A slim-fit blazer paired with flat-front trousers. The lightweight fabric clung perfectly to the body, almost as if you could feel it softly brushing against the skin, exploring every contour. Despite being fully covered, there was an undeniable sense of nakedness that left you feeling breathless.
The sharp, straight lines contrasted with the texture of the silk shirt, creating a tension. The severe, buttoned-up look gave off a restrained, almost ascetic vibe, while the casual softness of the shirt's fabric hinted at vulnerability, disturbing the peace like a ripple on a pond.
Close your eyes, and you can almost imagine the silky smoothness of the skin beneath the fabric.
Then, the red slim tie and red canvas shoes added an odd yet subtle twist, breaking the seriousness of the suit. There was an unstoppable youthful rebellion leaking out from beneath the formal attire.
And—
Black hair.
Anson had dyed his hair jet black, the pure ink color adding a touch of cool aloofness to his already sharp features. His deep, striking facial features became more understated, and a serene, distant air settled over his expression.
The cast of Elephant had been maintaining a low-key, minimalist style. So far, the movie had released no information except for a single poster—
Anson, with blond hair, slightly tilting his head upward.
That was it.
So when Anson walked onto the red carpet at the opening ceremony with blonde hair, everyone assumed it was part of the film's promotional look.
Bright gold—a color that could be garish—somehow worked on Anson.
However, that color lasted less than 36 hours. Upon arriving in Cannes, Anson changed his hair color for the second time.
Low-key, pure.
This version of Anson was unlike anything anyone had seen before—innocent, quiet, like a character straight out of a manga.
And yet, he paired it with a red suit.
The collision of colors and contrasting qualities on Anson resulted in a kind of alchemy.
The rose-red was so bold and brilliant that it made the sunset seem pale in comparison. Yet, because of Anson's reserved elegance and calm demeanor, the flamboyant energy was completely contained, like a storm held in the palm of his hand.
Breathing stopped in an instant.
Unbelievable.
That was the only thought in Emmanuel's mind. Even though everyone was prepared, even though expectations were sky-high, and even though people were eager to witness the spectacle, when the moment arrived, the mind went blank.
Anson had arrived.
He stood there, smiling faintly, his eyes bright as he looked out at the crowd. He gave a slight nod but didn't hurry to move on. He lingered.
At that moment, all eyes in the world were on Anson.
The red sea beneath his feet quietly lay before his canvas shoes like a gentle stream. Behind him, the deep blue sky had turned into a magnificent, burning orange, crimson flames flickering without a sound, fading into the background behind Anson.
Every inch of the surrounding red filled the view, yet the only focus was on that rose-red suit—
Quiet yet strong, elegant yet bold, carefree yet untamed.
Uncontrollably, hearts started to race.
Words?
In that moment, words ceased to exist. Just like when standing before the majesty of nature, the human mind doesn't seek language to describe it—it just takes it in, listens, feels it with the body.
You experience it, immerse in it, remember it.
Words become useless, unable to capture the essence of the moment.
And so it was.
Emmanuel simply followed instinct, pressing the shutter, trying to capture the light and shadows, attempting to freeze the moment in time.
Two days ago, he wore black—sexy, like a devil.
Two days later, he wore red—elegant, like an angel.
Emmanuel wasn't sure if anyone had done this before, at least not in his memory. But now, Anson had fully displayed it—
A deadly charm that took your breath away.
The crowd was silent, except for the sound of camera shutters.
Click. Click. Click.
The symphony of clicks built up like waves crashing on the shore, echoing in the air. The world spun faster, adrenaline rushing, roaring in the ears.
Until Anson turned—
That man looked at the scene before him. Only the sound of shutters remained, no shouting, no screaming, no other sounds. His smile bloomed fully.
Then, he waved.
Suddenly, a wave of excitement surged, and the crowd lost control. Screams and roars erupted like a stampede.
"Ah, ah, ahhh!"
The entire venue exploded.
The second black Mercedes had just stopped at the beginning of the red carpet. Gus Van Sant opened the door, ready to step out, when the roaring heatwave almost swallowed him whole.
Gus paused, pulling his leg back in, cautiously peeking out with a confused, startled look, like a prairie dog.
Anson saw this and burst into a full smile. He stepped forward, extending his hand, "Director, it's okay, don't worry."
Gus widened his eyes, glancing around, "Are you sure?"
Anson nodded, "One hundred percent."
At that moment, the media and spectators on either side of the red carpet realized that Anson had been waiting for the rest of the Elephant cast to arrive. The mystery surrounding the film was about to be unveiled.
But the main question remained: who was in the cast that made Anson arrive first and wait so patiently?
Though people knew Anson didn't care much about red carpet order, curiosity couldn't help but rise.
The shutter clicks and cheers rose another notch, turning the Palais des Festivals into a sea of fire, rolling waves of heat crashing over.