Last December, John Travolta told Thierry Frémaux, the general delegate of Cannes, that he had finished his first film as a director, Come Fly with Me, which premieres on Apple TV on May 29. “But I don’t know…”. “Send it to me,” the Frenchman snapped. A few days later, Frémaux called him and said: “For the first time in the history of Cannes, I’m going to do this. I will personally select it for the festival, and don’t touch it. It’s perfect. But let me protect it.” Travolta (Englewood, New Jersey, 72 years old) tells this smiling. “That’s why he included it in the Cannes Premiere section. What I didn’t imagine was the other thing.” His doubts arose because the film is 61 minutes long, just enough to consider it a feature and not a medium-length film. And the other thing is the Honorary Palme d’Or he received at the start of the gala screening on Friday. “No one knew, neither my family nor my team nor Apple. Thierry kept it to himself and gave me that gift.”
In person, Travolta’s gaze remains overwhelming. Trimmed and dyed beard, beret (today in burgundy color) that covers what is supposed to be a shaved head. But those eyes. His voice is almost a little voice. Next to him sits his daughter Ella Bleu, who acts in the film as a loving flight attendant, and who speaks the same way and has eyes the same color as her father’s. In fact, she is the Travolta who appears the most, because five of John’s siblings also have roles and it is dedicated to all of them, to the star’s parents, to his wife, Kelly Preston, who passed away in 2020, and to his son Jett, who died at 17 in 2009 after an epileptic seizure. “That’s why their names and the whole family appear.” That’s where the interview begins, agreed with a warning: no questions can be asked about matters unrelated to Come Fly with Me.
Question. Filming with the family, was it a way to bring them together, a guilty pleasure, or just how a joy came about?
John Travolta. It was a joy. And an emotion… They are all professional actors, so it was actually a continuation of what we live at home.
Ella Bleu Travolta. It’s just that on vacation we’re always improvising performances and singing [the actress will not speak again].
J. T. I want you to understand that it is an absolutely personal film, for me. Everyone, present and absent, appears in some way in it. It has been magical. Because it didn’t have much budget, although there were talented people close to me. And we found the two protagonists among all of us.
Come Fly with Me is based on Propeller One-Way Night Coach, John Travolta’s novel that tells the journey of a 12-year-old boy and his mother in 1962. They move to Hollywood, where she has found work as an actress. But they have little money and cross the United States in a propeller plane and on a cheap flight with numerous stops, quite an adventure for the boy, a fan of aviation. Like Travolta.
Q. Why did it take so long to direct?
A. Because I only wanted to do it with this story. And 30 years ago I wasn’t ready to direct. Later, when I did feel confident, it was time to find the money. And when someone finances a film, they want their opinion to be taken into account. I wasn’t willing to let anyone interfere with my vision. That’s why a producer advised me: ‘Do it yourself, and the film will be how you want it.’ That’s why it took longer, and I write, direct, produce, narrate, and act in the end. It’s an intimate film, with my own personality. Accompanied by the people who love me. Although meant to be shared with everyone. To share it with someone.
Q. The story takes place in 1962, when your country was buzzing with hope, something that shortly after was radically cut off. Is that why you chose that era?
A. That’s right, and that’s why the film is so important. Because it reminds us of a time when life was full of hopes. That little boy is a resilient being. And happy, he enjoys what comes his way. He always sees the glass as half full. In those days, the tone, even if terrible things happened, was hopeful. The future was faced in a hopeful way. Now we face the future as something dark and hard. I know we are currently going through complicated times. However, today people see life in an absolutely cynical way. Cynicism, cynicism, cynicism. I’m exhausted from so much life cynicism.
Q. Do you remember the first time you flew?
A. Yes, it was just like in the film when Rhapsody in Blue plays. I was 8 years old, and I saw the TWA plane from the terminal. It was epic. I cried because it was so beautiful… And then I climbed the stairs, sat down, and everything exuded elegance. Many of the feelings in the film come from my emotions that day.
Q. You are now an expert pilot. What do you remember about your first flight?
A. It was long. I took lessons at three different times in my life. The first two, with very tough instructors. The third time, however, was with a wonderful guy, my age, who cared for and protected me. Super patient. I struggled again and he said: “Give me two more hours, because you’ve got it, you’re very close.” I told him no and he started crying. So I had no choice but to stay, and he made me a pilot. And look at me now.
Q. On Friday you said that an Honorary Palme d’Or is better than winning an Oscar. Are you sure?
A. Absolutely, and I have been nominated twice, for Saturday Night Fever and for Pulp Fiction. Because the Palme is a recognition of art. In the Oscars, politicking, favoritism, and cronyism interfere. You enter a campaign to win it over others. I have come to Cannes many times, I know what I’m talking about. I am at a festival with people who make the films I like. So on Friday I felt deeply moved and surprised. It was perfect.
