'' The Navigator '' was officially chosen for competition at the 1988 Cannes Film Festival , and although it won no awards it received a five-minute standing ovation . Caryn James of the '' New York Times '' described the film as " a dark , thrilling fantasy that places Mr. Ward ... among the most innovative and authoritative young film makers " , and gave it four and half out of five stars . On Rotten Tomatoes the film received an 80 % rating , based on five reviews
1988 Cannes Film Festival
1988 Cannes Film Festival
The Navigator: A Medieval Odyssey