Sean Penn's 'Black Flies' shocks Cannes with graphic imagery

Los Angeles, May 19 (IANS) 'Black Flies', the Sean Penn and Tye Sheridan film about emergency medical first responders, smacked the Cannes Film Festival in the face with a brutal world premiere.

Splattered brains, dead dogs, an addict giving birth with a needle dangling from her arm - these and a litany of other horrors confronted Penn and Sheridan, who play veteran and rookie paramedics, respectively, at the New York Fire Department, reports 'Variety'.

Interestingly enough, the black-tie screening at the Grand Palais enjoyed the dose of reality, giving the film a five-minute standing ovation.

"We carry the misery," a weary Penn tells Sheridan in the film of their chosen profession. That's an understatement, as chaos unfolds neighborhood by neighborhood in a portrait of an unforgiving city.

As per 'Variety', 'Black Flies' stars Sheridan as Ollie Cross, a young paramedic in New York City who is mentored by Penn's more-experienced EMT. The two are forced to face extreme violence during their shifts, from blood-soaked gunshot wounds to disturbing scenes of domestic violence and life-threatening pregnancies, forcing Ollie to confront his beliefs about life and death.

Legendary boxer Mike Tyson also stars in the film as Chief Burroughs, Sheridan and Penn's superior officer.

Disclaimer: This story has not been edited by the Sakshi Post team and is auto-generated from syndicated feed.