As a seasoned movie critic with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must admit that Alberto Barbera‘s announcement of this year’s Venice Film Festival lineup left me utterly thrilled and impressed. The diversity of films, from known names to potential discoveries, spanning various genres and themes, is truly a testament to Barbera’s dedication and vision for the festival.
Alberto Barbera, the artistic director of Venice Film Festival, has worked tirelessly for the past nine months, putting in long hours and making intricate arrangements, much like a factory worker in a Charlie Chaplin film, to create the impressive and celebrated lineup he recently revealed.
In the 81st edition of The Lido coming soon, there will be a diverse lineup of established artists and newcomers from various genres. This selection represents different geographical areas and offers a broad spectrum, ranging from light-hearted entertainment to thought-provoking political pieces. Additionally, this year’s festival marks the comeback of films with an erotic theme, as Barbera shares with EbMaster.
It looks like a great lineup. Are you happy?
Certainly, I agree with you and I’m extremely pleased. The diverse and abundant lineup has me beaming with joy, reaching a happiness level of 95%-98%. However, there’s always room for improvement. This year’s selection aligns perfectly with the goals and vision of the festival I’ve dedicated years to. It showcases renowned auteur films, crowd-pleasing spectacles, debut filmmakers, hidden gems, and the unexpected. In essence, it aims to present a comprehensive image of contemporary cinema in all its unique facets.
Let’s talk about the American movies. Was it tough to get them? Was there less stuff out there?
Based on my experience as a film industry insider who has traveled extensively for business, I can tell you that this year’s Venice Film Festival lineup hasn’t been overly challenging to put together. Most of the films we’ve secured were discussed during my annual tours in New York and Los Angeles at the beginning of the year. However, I must acknowledge a noticeable slowdown in production due to the lingering effects of the pandemic.
This year there aren’t any movies from Netflix, which used to be a Venice fixture. Why?
Netflix isn’t present at the festival this year due to lack of eligible productions following the departure of Scott Stuber, their former film head, last fall. He was succeeded by Dan Lin in early 2023, and given the new leadership, some time is required for a smooth transition. Rest assured, Netflix will be back in full force for next year’s festival season. I maintain regular communication with them, and I can confirm they have an impressive lineup of films in development from renowned filmmakers.
Last year, A24 made its debut in Venice with the film “Priscilla.” Now, they’re returning with a new erotic thriller titled “Babygirl,” starring Nicole Kidman.
Certainly, they had been uncertain about it earlier due to their lack of prior knowledge about Venice. However, they expressed satisfaction with their visit there the previous year.
Earlier today, you mentioned that sexuality is making a comeback in Venice, encompassing various expressions such as heterosexual, homosexual, fluid, sadomasochistic, and adolescent. Could you please provide more details on what you mean by this resurgence, signifying a revival of sensuality after a long period of adhering to moral standards and self-restraint?
Based on my experience working in the corporate world and having seen my fair share of power dynamics that border on sadomasochistic relationships, I find “Baby Girl” to be a thought-provoking film that explores this theme in a unique way. Unlike many films from the past, which often portrayed women engaging in illicit behavior being punished severely, this modern take surprisingly offers a different ending. This shift in narrative reflects the evolving societal norms and attitudes towards such relationships. It’s intriguing to witness how far we have come in acknowledging the complexities of human emotions and behaviors within corporate structures.
As a fan, I’d describe it this way: Among the most alluring offerings at Venice once more, I can’t reveal too much, is the “Disclaimer” TV series by Alfonso Cuaron, featuring Cate Blanchett in the lead. The fourth episode takes things to an extreme level – words can barely do it justice. Another piece that fearlessly tackles sexuality and uninhibited behavior is Norwegian filmmaker Dag Johan Haugerud’s creation, “Love.” A sequel to his previous work “Sex,” this Berlin-premiered film brings us a trilogy exploring contemporary sexuality in an open, candid, and bold manner.
And then there is “Queer” of course – is it true there is lots of onscreen sex?
As a movie enthusiast, I’d put it this way: There’s “Queer” – a film that boldly tackles two major themes: drug dependency and same-sex attraction. This production pushes boundaries with its raw honesty, unapologetic approach, and lack of judgment towards these subjects. Daniel Craig’s participation in graphic erotic scenes requires immense bravery, as societal rejection of such behaviors remains prevalent in today’s world.
In the press conference, you defined it as the greatest role of Craig’s career.
As a film critic with over two decades of experience under my belt, I have seen countless performances that leave a lasting impression. But this year at the Venice Film Festival, two actors in particular stood out to me – Daniel Craig in “Queer” and Joaquin Phoenix in “Joker 2.” These aren’t just memorable turns, they are once-in-a-lifetime performances.
Read More
- CKB PREDICTION. CKB cryptocurrency
- EUR INR PREDICTION
- PENDLE PREDICTION. PENDLE cryptocurrency
- PBX PREDICTION. PBX cryptocurrency
- ICP PREDICTION. ICP cryptocurrency
- USD DKK PREDICTION
- USD VND PREDICTION
- GEAR PREDICTION. GEAR cryptocurrency
- IMX PREDICTION. IMX cryptocurrency
- CSIX PREDICTION. CSIX cryptocurrency
2024-07-23 21:17