A Tearful Connection with the Audience
At the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Angelina Jolie delivered a deeply moving moment during the world premiere of her latest film, Couture. The 50-year-old Hollywood star, known for her powerful performances and humanitarian work, broke down in tears when an audience member asked for advice on coping with the loss of a loved one to cancer. The question struck a personal chord with Jolie, who lost her mother, Marcheline Bertrand, to ovarian and breast cancer in 2007. The emotional exchange, reported by Entertainment Weekly, highlighted Jolie’s vulnerability and her ability to connect with others through shared experiences of grief.
The audience member shared that he had recently lost a close friend to cancer, prompting Jolie to pause and collect herself before responding. “I’m very sorry,” she said, her voice heavy with empathy. The moment was particularly poignant given Jolie’s own history with the disease. In 2013, she underwent a preventive double mastectomy after discovering she carried a gene that increased her risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Her mother’s battle with cancer left a lasting impact, and Jolie’s response to the audience member reflected the wisdom and perspective she gained from that experience.
Recalling a memory from her mother’s illness, Jolie shared a piece of advice that resonated deeply with the audience. “One thing I remember my mother saying when she had cancer, she said to me once, we had a dinner and people were asking her how she was feeling and what she was doing, and she said, ‘All anybody ever asks me about is cancer,’” Jolie recounted. She went on to offer heartfelt guidance: “So I would say, if you know someone who’s going through something, ask them about everything else in their life as well. They’re a whole person, and they’re still living.” The audience erupted in applause, moved by her words and the reminder to see people beyond their illnesses.
Couture: A Story of Living Fully
Jolie’s emotional moment at TIFF was not only a reflection of her personal experiences but also tied to the themes of her new film, Couture, in which she plays a filmmaker named Maxine. During a press conference earlier in the festival, Jolie spoke about her personal connection to the project. “I felt very fortunate. The film is very thoughtful, and you simply sit through it, allowing yourself to spend time and think about life. Sometimes it’s as simple as that,” she said. The film’s narrative, which explores living fully in the face of adversity, resonated with Jolie’s own philosophy of embracing life’s complexities.
“Every single person here has been touched by grief, every single person here has lost someone. Many of you have had that moment in the hospital. You wonder, does that define you or how you live through it?” Jolie reflected. In Couture, Maxine’s character is not defined solely by her cancer diagnosis but by her identity as a mother, an artist, and a vibrant individual. Jolie emphasized the importance of portraying Maxine as a multifaceted person. “What I really love is that there are often films that deal with cancer that become about the cancer, and the life becomes defined by the illness, instead of what is this life? Who is Maxine? Maxine, though it isn’t just this. She’s a mother, she’s an artist, she’s sexual, all of these things I thought were really important to show, and to live forward while we’re here. Try to live as much as we can,” she said.
The film’s director, Alice Winecour, and co-star Anyier Anei were by Jolie’s side during the emotional moment on stage, offering comfort as she navigated the heartfelt exchange. Couture stands out as a project that challenges the typical portrayal of illness in cinema, focusing instead on the richness of life and the resilience of the human spirit. Jolie’s performance, coupled with her candid vulnerability at TIFF, underscores her commitment to telling stories that inspire and uplift, even in the face of profound loss.
Jolie’s words at TIFF 2025 serve as a reminder to cherish the full spectrum of a person’s life, beyond their struggle. Her ability to weave personal experience into universal advice left an indelible mark on the audience, making the premiere of Couture a moment of both cinematic and emotional significance.
