WATCH: Jane Fonda's Throws an Award at Director Justine Triet

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With the renowned French Riviera serving as its backdrop, the Cannes Film Festival is always a spectacle to behold. But in its latest iteration, it was Jane Fonda, Hollywood icon and veteran of the festival, who stole the spotlight - in a peculiarly humorous way.

The Unexpected Shot Heard 'Round Social Media

At the festival's closing ceremony, Fonda was tasked with presenting the prestigious Palme d'Or, the award for best film. The 86-year-old actress executed her role flawlessly, but it was her subsequent actions that drew widespread attention.

When Justine Triet, director of the awarded film, "Anatomy of a Fall", accepted the prize but left it behind after delivering her acceptance speech, Fonda attempted to call her back, to no avail. What happened next sent ripples through the audience and flooded social media feeds worldwide.

Losing her temper — or perhaps merely displaying her famed sense of humor — Fonda took the prize scroll and shot it at Triet. The move was unorthodox, to say the least, but effectively recalled the director to retrieve her award.

Triet, for her part, appeared unperturbed by the "hit".

Ok donc la vraie Queen c’est Jane Fonda pic.twitter.com/cFZwv0Akmq — andrzej ?????? (@andzejkra) May 27, 2023

The Historic Achievement of Justine Triet

Triet's win marks a historic moment in the annals of the Cannes Film Festival.

She becomes only the third female director to win the Palme d'Or since its inception in 1955. Her film, an intense courtroom thriller, showcases the superb acting skills of German actress Sandra Hüller, who is no stranger to Cannes' accolades, having starred in another Cannes laureate film, "The Zone of Interest." Fonda, in her remarks at the presentation, reflected on the progress made in the industry, contrasting the current landscape with her first visit to the festival in 1963. "There were no women directors competing at that time and it never even occurred to us that there was something wrong with that.

We have come a long way, but we have a long way to go,” Fonda observed. Triet, in her acceptance speech, highlighted contemporary issues within the industry. She criticized the "commercialization of culture," a trend she perceives as a threat to France's distinctive cultural heritage.

Triet underscored the critical role that cultural preservation played in her own success, stating, “I wouldn’t be here today” without France's cultural legacy. This poignant affirmation serves as a testament to the enduring power of film and culture in shaping the narratives of our lives.