Emma Stone shines as ‘Poor Things‘ claims Golden Lion at Venice Film Festival, despite her absence due to SAG-AFTRA strike
Credit: Google | Yorgos Lanthimo | Poor Thing Cast
In a resplendent gala at the 80th Venice International Film Festival, the spotlight shone brightly on “Poor Things” ,Yorgos Lanthimos‘ cinematic masterpiece, as it emerged victorious with the prestigious Golden Lion for Best Film. This crowning achievement, however, carried a bittersweet note, marked by the conspicuous absence of the film’s luminary lead, Emma Stone, who stood in solidarity with the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.
#BiennaleCinema2023 #Venezia80
— La Biennale di Venezia (@la_Biennale) September 9, 2023
Leone d’Oro per il miglior film / Golden Lion for Best Film:@PoorThingsFilm di/by #YorgosLanthimos pic.twitter.com/v7zbbU9dCm
“Poor Things” unfolds as a captivating voyage through the evolution of its protagonist, Bella Baxter, portrayed with finesse by Emma Stone. Director Yorgos Lanthimos acknowledged Stone’s pivotal role, underscoring that the film’s existence was indebted to her unparalleled talent. This collaboration rekindles the success of “The Favourite” in 2018, where Stone and Lanthimos left an indelible mark on the Venice Festival.
Set against a fantastical 19th-century European backdrop, “Poor Things” mesmerizes viewers with Bella’s transformative odyssey, meticulously adapted by Tony McNamara from Alasdair Gray’s 1992 novel. The stellar ensemble cast includes Willem Dafoe as Bella’s father, a distinguished doctor; Ramy Youssef as his devoted assistant and suitor, and Mark Ruffalo as a morally dubious lawyer.
Lanthimos revealed the film’s long gestation period, patiently waiting for the world and the industry to embrace its distinctive narrative. Despite Emma Stone’s absence, the festival reverberated with excitement, exemplified by enthusiastic crowds chanting the director’s name, an unequivocal testament to the film’s resonance.
The festival also featured a diverse spectrum of cinematic offerings, ranging from historical dramas such as “Comandante” to thought-provoking works like “Evil Does Not Exist“, helmed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, exploring a Japanese town’s resistance against a glamping site.
Immigration emerged as a recurring theme among the laureates. Matteo Garrone clinched the Best Director accolade for “Me Captain“, an immigration-centric drama, while Agnieszka Holland received the Special Jury Prize for “Green Border“, a multifaceted examination of immigration in Poland.
Cailee Spaeny, portraying Priscilla Presley in Sofia Coppola’s “Priscilla“,claimed the Volpi Cup for Best Actress, while Peter Sarsgaard’s poignant portrayal in Michel Franco’s “Memory” earned him the Best Actor honor. Seydou Sarr was bestowed with the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Outstanding Emerging Actor.
“In acknowledgment of outstanding screenwriting, “El Conde“, a vampiric reinterpretation centered around Chilean dictator Gen. Augusto Pinochet, was honored”. Augusto Pinochet, earned the distinguished title of Best Screenplay. This creative masterpiece was skillfully penned by Guillermo Calderón and brought to life under the directorial vision of Pablo LarraÃn. Meanwhile, Lee Hong-Chi’s directorial debut, “Love Is a Gun“, captured the Lion of the Future award for Best Debut Feature, and the captivating documentary “Thank You Very Much“, offering a whimsical journey into the world of Andy Kaufman, proudly clinched the highly regarded Venice Classics award for Best Documentary on Cinema.”
In the Orizzonti section, Hungarian director Gabor Reisz’s expansive opus, “Explanation for Everything“, emerged victorious as the top prize recipient. “El Paraiso“,a poignant mother-daughter drama, garnered accolades for Margarita Rosa de Francisco, named Best Actress, and Enrico Maria Artale, recognized for Best Screenplay. Notably, the Best Actor award in this category went to Tergel Bold-Erdene for the Mongolian gem “City of Wind“.
The festival paid tribute to cinematic luminaries, conferring the Golden Lions for lifetime achievement upon Tony Leung Chiu-wai and director Liliana Cavani. Wes Anderson received the prestigious Glory to the Filmmaker Award, culminating in a memorable year for cinema at Venice.
While the absence of Emma Stone cast a shadow, the 80th Venice International Film Festival remained a testament to the enduring power of storytelling through cinema, spotlighting a diverse array of films, themes, and talents on the grand stage.
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