Yorgos Lanthimos, Cailee Spaeny and Peter Sarsgaard win at Venice
Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos won the Golden Lion for his film Poor Things, but the absence of big-name stars dimmed the celebrations in Venice.
It was a foregone conclusion that Yorgos Lanthimos’s Poor Things – a surreal, Frankenstein-like story featuring Emma Stone – would emerge as the Golden Lion winner at the 80th Venice Film Festival. While he fully supports the striking actors and writers in the US, the Greek director lamented the absence of Stone and the film’s writer, Australia’s Tony McNamara, from their Venice awards glory.
Big-budget Hollywood films screening at Venice – Michael Mann’s Ferrari and Bradley Cooper’s Maestro – were shut out of the awards, although many believed that Carey Mulligan delivered the best female performance with her portrayal of Leonard Bernstein’s wife, Felicia Montealegre, in the latter film.
The surprise winner of the best actress Volpi Cup was Cailee Spaeny for her performance as Priscilla Presley in Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla. In her acceptance speech she thanked Australian actor Jacob Elordi, who plays Elvis in the film, for his support and she dedicated the award to Priscilla.
In another surprising although deserved turn of events, Peter Sarsgaard won the best actor prize for his tender, moving turn as a man with dementia in Michel Franco’s Memory. His co-star, Jessica Chastain, was another favourite for best actress for her role as an abuse victim who comes to work as his character’s professional carer.
Two dramas dealing with the refugee crisis were strong contenders and claimed major prizes. Juror Jane Campion handed the directing award to Italy’s Matteo Garrone for Io Capitano (Me Captain), while his young, non-professional star Seydou Sarr was named best newcomer and received the biggest audience applause. Garrone says he hopes the prize will bring his film to a wider audience and give a voice to refugees and their plight.
Poland’s Agnieszka Holland won the Special Jury prize for Green Border, which follows a family of Syrian refugees as they try to enter Belarus. Holland says it was her duty to tell the story, noting that “since 2014, when the refugee crisis first reared its head, about 560,000 people have died while attempting to reach Europe”. The director dedicated the award to local activists and associations that are aiding refugees.
Japan’s Ryusuke Hamaguchi (Drive My Car) won the Silver Lion or second prize for Evil Does Not Exist, while Chile’s Pablo Larrain and Guillermo Calderon took out the screenwriting award for El Conde, coming soon on Netflix.
Three wonderful films, Woody Allen’s Coup de Chance, Richard Linklater’s Hit Man and French absurdist Quentin Dupieux’s Daaaaaali! screened out of competition so were ineligible for awards.
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80th Venice Film Festival
Golden Lion for Best Film
Poor Things, Yorgos Lanthimos (Ireland/UK/USA)
Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize
Evil Does Not Exist, Ryusuke Hamaguchi (Japan)
Silver Lion for Best Director
Matteo Garrone, Me Captain (Italy/Belgium)
Volpi Cup for Best Actress
Cailee Spaeny, Priscilla (USA/Italy)
Volpi Cup for Best Actor
Peter Sarsgaard, Memory (Mexico/USA)
Best Screenplay
Guillermo Calderon and Pablo Larrain, El Conde (Chile)
Special Jury Prize
Agnieszka Holland, Green Border (Poland/France/Czech Republic/Belgium)
Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best New Talent
Seydou Sarr, Me Captain
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