David Cronenberg's new grief

Director David Cronenberg returned to the south of France to premiere his new film The Shrouds, earning a subdued 3.5 minute standing ovation from the audience.

The film is a rather personal one - inspired by the 2017 death of his wife Carolyn Zeifman, who he had been married to since 1979.

The 81-year-old director put an end to the standing ovation himself, according to The Hollywood Reporter, when he took the mic and thanked the crowd.

'This is the first time I’ve seen the movie with an audience, and it’s completely different. I’m very happy that you are all here,' the director said.

The report described the reception as 'rather reserved,' speculating that fans were simply being respectful of the director, given how it was inspired by his wife's death.

Director David Cronenberg returned to the south of France (with Diane Kruger) to premiere his new film The Shrouds, earning a subdued 3.5 minute standing ovation from the audience

The 81-year-old director put an end to the standing ovation himself, according to The Hollywood Reporter , when he took the mic and thanked the crowd

However another report from Variety described the ovation as 'polite' and 'lackluster,' compared to raucous ovations received by other films.

The Shrouds follows Karsh (Vincent Cassel), a businessman who has become inconsolable following the death of his wife.

He creates a company called GraveTech, that builds a high-tech shroud that allows the widower to watch his beloved decompose in real time.

The story takes a turn when many graves are desecrated and the businessman sets out to track down the perpetrators.

The film also stars Diane Kruger, playing a triple role of Karsh's wife, her sister and the virtual avatar shown by the high-tech shroud.

The cast is rounded out by Guy Pearce, Sandrine Holt, Elizabeth Saunders and Jennifer Dale.

The director was also seen smiling and putting on a pair of 90s retro sunglasses while his film was being given a standing ovation.

The Shrouds is his seventh film to compete at the Cannes Film Festival, with his 1996 film Crash winning a Jury Prize in his first trip to the Croisette.

However another report from Variety described the ovation as 'polite' and 'lackluster,' compared to raucous ovations received by other films

The Shrouds follows Karsh (Vincent Cassel, right), a businessman who has become inconsolable following the death of his wife.

The film also stars Diane Kruger, playing a triple role of Karsh's wife, her sister and the virtual avatar shown by the high-tech shroud

The director was also seen smiling and putting on a pair of 90s retro sunglasses while his film was being given a standing ovation

He won a Golden Coach award in 2006, with his films Spider, A History of Violence, Cosmopolis, Maps to the Stars and Crimes of the Future all competing for the coveted Palme d'Or

He won a Golden Coach award in 2006, with his films Spider, A History of Violence, Cosmopolis, Maps to the Stars and Crimes of the Future all competing for the coveted Palme d'Or. 

For this film, Cronenberg was joined by cast members Cassel, Kruger, Pearce and Holt on the red carpet.

The film doesn't have a distributor at this time, though it remains to be seen if it will continue to hit the festival circuit.  

There has also been speculation that this may be Cronenberg's last film as a director, though he has yet to confirm or deny whether he will make another film or not.