Leonardo DiCaprio Honors Robert De Niro with Palme d’Or | Cannes 2025 – Full Speech

Summary

In this heartfelt tribute, the speaker honors Robert Dairo, a legendary actor whose influence on the craft of acting has shaped an entire generation. The speaker recalls their personal experience of working with Dairo and reflects on how Dairo’s performances, particularly his subtlety and authenticity, have left an indelible mark on cinema. Dairo's partnership with Martin Scorsese is highlighted as revolutionary, and the speaker also emphasizes the importance of art in society, especially amidst growing threats to democracy and cultural freedom. The tribute is an emotional recognition of Dairo's lasting impact on the art of storytelling.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker recognizes Robert Dairo as an archetype for actors of their generation, emphasizing his influence in shaping acting as a craft of physical transformation.
• 😀 Robert Dairo's legacy is not just in the roles he played but in how he inspired actors to immerse themselves completely in their characters.
• 😀 The speaker recounts how, as a young actor, they had the chance to audition for and work with Robert Dairo, an experience that profoundly impacted their career.
• 😀 Dairo’s pivotal role in shaping the speaker's career is highlighted, especially when he recommended them to Martin Scorsese, leading to key collaborations.
• 😀 The speaker reflects on Dairo’s minimalist approach to fame, preferring to stay out of the spotlight, yet recognizing that even the most private of individuals deserve acknowledgment for their lasting impact.
• 😀 Dairo's upbringing in an artistic family influenced his work, fostering a commitment to truth and authenticity in his acting.
• 😀 The partnership between Dairo and director Martin Scorsese is described as revolutionary, producing iconic films that redefined cinema and elevated the actor-director relationship.
• 😀 Dairo taught actors that sometimes the most powerful moments in a film come from silence, allowing the character’s soul to be revealed through unspoken actions.
• 😀 The speaker humorously notes that many actors of Dairo's generation have imitated his famous self-conversations in front of a mirror, a practice that became iconic.
• 😀 The speaker advocates for the importance of democracy and the arts, criticizing political leaders who attack cultural institutions and the freedom of creativity, highlighting the need for global action and voting.

Q & A

What is the significance of Robert Dairo in the speaker's career?

Robert Dairo is described as a key figure who shaped the speaker's career. The speaker viewed Dairo as an archetype to emulate and mentioned that Dairo's mentorship and encouragement early in the speaker's career had a lasting impact, including helping secure roles in important films.

How did Robert Dairo influence the speaker’s approach to acting?

Dairo inspired the speaker to approach acting as a form of physical transformation rather than just performance. The speaker emphasized that Dairo’s commitment to truth in his roles showed how deeply an actor can immerse themselves into a character.

What anecdote does the speaker share about their first audition with Robert Dairo?

The speaker recalls auditioning for the film *This Boy’s Life* at the age of 15 or 16. During the audition, the speaker stood out by screaming at Dairo, which led to laughter in the room. Later, Dairo chose the speaker for the role, and this moment marked a turning point in the speaker’s career.

What role did Robert Dairo play in helping the speaker’s career further?

After working with the speaker on *This Boy’s Life*, Robert Dairo recommended the speaker to Martin Scorsese, which led to significant collaborations, such as *Goodfellas* and other key films. This recommendation played a crucial role in advancing the speaker's career.

How does the speaker describe Robert Dairo's personality?

The speaker describes Dairo as someone who doesn't seek the spotlight and is very private. However, when Dairo does speak or offer advice, it is meaningful and impactful. The speaker also mentions Dairo’s quiet but profound influence on others.

What are some of the core values Dairo’s work reflects?

Dairo's work reflects a deep commitment to truth, creativity, and stripping away anything false to portray the complexities of characters. The speaker highlights Dairo's focus on honesty in portraying characters, no matter how messy or complicated that truth may be.

What partnership is described as legendary in the script?

The script discusses the legendary partnership between Robert Dairo and Martin Scorsese. Together, they created some of the most iconic films in cinema, redefined the actor-director relationship, and pushed boundaries in storytelling.

What impact did Robert Dairo's acting have on the speaker as a young person?

As a young person, the speaker was deeply influenced by Dairo's range and power as an actor. What particularly stood out to the speaker was Dairo's ability to convey depth and character through stillness and unspoken moments.

What was Robert Dairo’s role in the speaker’s understanding of cinematic storytelling?

Dairo taught the speaker that the soul of a film can often be conveyed in a single, unspoken moment, and that sometimes the most powerful scenes are the ones with minimal dialogue. This understanding helped shape the speaker’s perspective on cinematic storytelling.

How does the speaker describe the importance of art and democracy in the context of the script?

The speaker connects art to democracy, emphasizing that the arts are inclusive and a means of bringing people together. They also touch on the political relevance of art, noting that art and artists are a threat to autocrats and fascists, and that there is a global need to protect freedom of expression and creativity.