82nd Venice Film Festival Opens With Sorrentino Drama Amid Gaza Protests

The 82nd Venice Film Festival opened on August 27 on the island of Lido, featuring the world premiere of Paolo Sorrentino's film "La Grazia." The movie stars Toni Servillo as a fictional Italian president facing moral dilemmas, including approving euthanasia and pardoning prisoners, inspired by a real 2019 presidential pardon case. Festival director Alberto Barbera described the film as a departure from Sorrentino's typical style, highlighting its austerity and moral focus. The festival, running through September 6, showcases 21 films competing for the Golden Lion, with notable entries from Guillermo del Toro, Kathryn Bigelow, and others, and an international jury led by Alexander Payne and Fernanda Torres. Amid the glitz, the festival has been a venue for political activism, particularly protests concerning the Gaza conflict, although organizers emphasize no political boycotts of artists. Hollywood stars such as George Clooney, Julia Roberts, and Dwayne Johnson attended, and Netflix returned with high-profile premieres after a previous absence.