John Travolta's directorial debut, Propeller One-Way Night Coach, has premiered at Cannes, but it's not exactly the triumph it was made out to be. The film, a 61-minute autobiographical story about an eight-year-old boy's flight across the US in 1962, has received mixed reviews, with one critic calling it a 'disaster'. This isn't the first time an A-lister's directorial efforts have fallen flat. Ryan Gosling's Lost River and Chris Pine's Poolman also premiered at prestigious festivals but failed to resonate with audiences. The phenomenon of actors-turned-directors is intriguing, but it often leads to self-indulgent, amateurish results. Why do festivals indulge these projects? The answer lies in the allure of Hollywood glamour and the ego-boost it provides to the stars themselves. Despite the mixed reception, Travolta received standing ovations and an honorary Palme d'Or, which he deemed more valuable than an Oscar. The question remains: is it worth the hype?
