Festival has started: Coppola and Duke hold hands in Venice

Cate Blanchett, George Clooney, Adam Sandler: The film festival in Venice started with a lot of Starpower from Hollywood. In the course of the next a week and a half, further prominence such as Emma Stone and Julia Roberts will be added.

The 82nd edition of the festival was opened by the new film by the director Paolo Sorentino: With “La Grazia” about a fictional Italian president, he returns to the age of old size. The meeting of two director icons was touching on the first evening.

Hand in hand in the cinema

The Hollywood legend Francis Ford Coppola and the German director Werner Herzog came together via the red carpet to the festival palace – first arm in arm, then hand in hand. The 86 -year -old Coppola, who recently had a heart surgery, was supported by Duke’s four years younger.

Then he held the laudation on the German, which was awarded a golden lion for his life’s work. “You have to celebrate the fact that someone like him can actually exist,” said Coppola (“the godfather”, “Apocalypse Now”) on stage. He described Herzog’s films as “unique and very different – but everyone great”.

Herzog thanked the words: “Venice was always good to me.” He described Coppola as “extremely nice and generous”. “We have known each other for half a century.” When he had no money for a hotel room, he was allowed to stay at Coppola to write the script for “Fitzcarraldo”, one of his most famous films.

Sorrenino back on the big stage

Sortino’s new drama “La Grazia” then opened the competition. Sortino, also internationally, since his opulent “La Grande Bellezza”, had no longer triggered a comparable positive echo with his younger works.

That should change now: “La Grazia” is visually magnificently staged and crossed by quiet comedy. The focus is on an Italian president in the last few months of his term: a man who has to make important decisions. His thoughts keep returning to his late wife.

Alluding to Italian President Mattarella

Sortino has occupied his drama with Toni Servillo, who was already convincing in “La Grande Bellezza – the great beauty”. As head of state, he recognizable with Italy’s current President Sergio Mattarella – also a Catholic and a highly respected lawyer, who has often been accompanied by his daughter since the death of his wife. In 2022, a film scene in which the head of state in the Milan Scala Standing Ovations was actually true.

“La Grazia” competes with 20 films around the Golden Lion, which will be awarded on September 6th. The jury president is the US director Alexander Payne. With “Bugonia” and “Jay Kelly”, the competition continues with two glamorous premieres.

Next carpet guests: Emma Stone and George Clooney

“Bugonia” is the new film by Giorgos Lanthimos, who captured Venice with “Poor Things” in 2023 and won the main prize. His new film is again occupied with Oscar winner Emma Stone. She plays a corporate boss that is kidnapped by conspiracy theorists.

This is followed by the premiere of “Jay Kelly”. Director Noah Baumbach tells of an aging actor (George Clooney), who goes on a trip to Europe with his manager (Adam Sandler). Laura Dern is also there.

In addition, Herzog’s new film “Ghost Elephant’s” premiere (except competition) – one of the few German films in the program. The film is about a naturalist who is looking for a mysterious herd of elephant in Angola.