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At the 78th annual Cannes Film Festival on Monday, A$AP Rocky was all smiles as he reunited with legendary actor Denzel Washington and acclaimed director Spike Lee for the photocall of their new movie, Highest 2 Lowest. Rocky rocked a stylish look with a black shirt under a white suit, gold earrings, black sunglasses, and his signature braided hair. Denzel kept things low-key in a black t-shirt with a plain shirt over it, while Spike Lee, a Cannes regular, dressed casually in a white hat, t-shirt, and pants.
Highest 2 Lowest is set to premiere out of competition at Cannes today. The film is inspired by Akira Kurosawa’s classic High and Low, but with some modern twists. This event also marked Denzel Washington’s very first appearance at Cannes, making it an extra special occasion.
Even more meaningful, May 19 is the 100th birthday of Malcolm X, the civil rights leader whom Spike Lee honored in his famous 1992 film starring Denzel. This added a special touch to the day’s events.
The movie dives deep into themes of social inequality and moral struggle. It follows a music mogul, played by Washington, whose career starts to unravel when he becomes the target of a ransom demand. The film was shot in various New York City locations, from the fancy areas by the East River to the vibrant Brighton Beach neighborhood in Brooklyn.
Before the premiere, Spike Lee told Vulture that Cannes has always been a fantastic place for filmmakers to introduce their movies to the world, not just American ones. He said the world—and the festival—keeps changing, but Cannes remains a great experience.
Alongside Washington, the film stars Jeffrey Wright, Wendell Pierce, Ice Spice, and Ilfenesh Hadera. Highest 2 Lowest will hit theaters across the U.S. on August 22 and will be available to stream on Apple TV+ starting September 5.