The film "Bunker", starring real-life couple Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem, premiered on 8/9 at the Venice Film Festival 2026, where it received a remarkable 15-minute standing ovation. Following the screening, Penelope Cruz broke down in tears, embracing and kissing her husband and co-star, Javier Bardem. As the applause continued beyond 10 minutes, Cruz thanked the audience and shook hands with a fan. Director Florian Zeller then invited the cast, including Patrick Schwarzenegger and Paul Dano, to step forward to accept congratulations from the audience.

The film centers on Bardem and Cruz as a married couple, Miguel and Sofia. Miguel, an architect, is commissioned to build a bunker for tech billionaire Andrew (Paul Dano). This decision leads Sofia (Penelope Cruz) to question the shared values in their 17-year marriage. The distance between them grows as Sofia begins working with Jeremy Gray (Patrick Schwarzenegger), a handsome American novelist.

Javier Bardem in "Bunker". Photo: Blue Morning Pictures

Despite the prolonged ovation, "Bunker" divided critics. Some praised the performances of Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem, as well as Florian Zeller's exploration of marital discord amidst social instability. However, The Guardian rated the film 2/5, arguing it lacked the emotional depth and authenticity that characterized Zeller's previous works, "The Father" and "The Son". Vulture called "Bunker" a "major disappointment" at this year's festival, noting that while the film presented noteworthy ideas, its execution was formulaic and the character arcs were underdeveloped. The International Cinephile Society praised "Bunker"'s direction but found that the film sometimes delivered its message too directly, making some ideas lack subtlety.

Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem on the red carpet for the premiere of "Bunker", a film competing for the Golden Lion at the 83rd Venice Film Festival. Photo: AFP

Director Florian Zeller revealed in an interview with Variety that Stanley Kubrick's "Eyes Wide Shut" was a significant inspiration for "Bunker". Similar to Kubrick, who cast Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman as a couple with a strained relationship, Zeller aimed to explore the boundary between fiction and reality by having Cruz and Bardem — a couple together for nearly two decades — portray a married couple on screen. Beyond the marital narrative, "Bunker" expands to address issues of extreme wealth, concentrated power in the hands of a few, and increasing social isolation. Through this, the film reflects the economic and social instabilities impacting relationships and modern life.

This project marks Zeller's return to Venice after "The Son", which competed for the Golden Lion at the 2022 festival. Director Florian Zeller, 47 years old, was a playwright before transitioning to filmmaking. His debut work, "The Father", earned him two Academy Awards: best actor for Anthony Hopkins and best adapted screenplay for Zeller and co-writer Christopher Hampton. Sony Pictures Classics acquired the distribution rights for "Bunker" in North America and other markets. The company plans a limited release later this year to qualify for the Academy Awards, before a wider theatrical release in the US in early 2027. According to observers, Cruz and Bardem could be considered for acting categories during this year's awards season.

Penelope Cruz is 52 years old, five years younger than Javier Bardem. Both are renowned Spanish stars in Hollywood, having married in 2010. They have co-starred in films such as "Jamon Jamon", "Live Flesh", and "Vicky Cristina Barcelona". Her role in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" earned Cruz an Academy Award for best supporting actress in 2009. Javier Bardem also won an Academy Award for best supporting actor for "No Country for Old Men" (2007).

Established in 1932, the Venice Film Festival is considered the world's oldest film festival. The 83rd edition of the event takes place from 2/9 to 12/9 on Lido Island, Italy. The opening film is "Ink", while Giovanni Veronesi's "Dio ride" was chosen as the closing film. The Golden Lion jury is chaired by American director, actress, and screenwriter Maggie Gyllenhaal. Other members include director Kaouther Ben Hania (Tunisia), artist Daniel Blumberg (UK), film and television theorist Francesco Casetti (US - Italy), director Xavier Giannoli (France), director Shahrbanoo Sadat (Afghanistan), and director Do Ky Phong (Hong Kong). This year, the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement was awarded to actor George Clooney and American actress Ellen Burstyn.

Cat Tien (according to Variety, Rotten Tomatoes)