AwardsWatch - Venice Film Festival

‘Woman Of…’ Review: Małgorzata Szumowska and Michał Englert Manage a Delicate Balancing Act in Portrayal of Trans Life in Poland | Venice

Calvin Law September 10, 2023

Małgorzata Szumowska and Michał Englert have frequently made reference to Poland’s lack of progress with regards to LGBT rights – the lone EU member state... Read More

‘lo Capitano’ Review: Garrone’s Migrant Story is Well Intentioned but Ultimately Slight | Venice

Roberto Ruggio September 8, 2023

“Mom, I have to go. Look where we live, our house is coming down.” These are the words Seydou, the protagonist of Matteo Garrone’s Io... Read More

‘Lubo’ Review: Franz Rogowski is Extraordinary in Giorgio Diritti’s Sometimes Brutal Work | Venice

Calvin Law September 7, 2023

‘You will devote your life to conquering death’: so is foretold to the titular protagonist of Giorgio Diritti’s Lubo (Franz Rogowski) before he embarks on... Read More

‘In the Land of Saints and Sinners’ Review: Liam Neeson Does his Usual Liam Neeson Thing in this Middling Action Thriller | Venice

Luke Hearfield September 7, 2023

If there was a theme for the 2023 Venice Film Festival lineup it would most certainly be hitmen. This year Venice attendees have been given... Read More

‘Origin’ Review: Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor’s Stunning Performance Drives Ava DuVernay’s Story of the American Caste System | Venice

Calvin Law September 6, 2023

Examining non-fictional source material through its process of creation is always a fascinating endeavour. Ava DuVernay has adapted Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Isabel Wilkerson’s... Read More

‘Evil Does Not Exist’ Review: Ryûsuke Hamaguchi Delivers with a Simple and Authentic Slow Burner | Venice

Ben Rolph September 5, 2023

Ryûsuke Hamaguchi’s latest has a peculiar backstory. It was originally intended to be paired with singer Ishibashi Eiko’s live performances of her new songs. But... Read More

‘Hit Man’ Review: Richard Linklater’s Latest is a Total Hit…Man | Venice

Luke Hearfield September 5, 2023

The subject of hitmen has been a common theme in the Venice lineup this year. Audiences have been treated to the neo-noir thriller from David... Read More

‘Green Border’ Review: Agnieszka Holland’s Devastating and Incisive Portrait of the Belarus-Poland Refugee Crisis | Venice

Calvin Law September 5, 2023

“They have been watching us for 10 years. No one did anything,” bitterly remarks Syrian refugee Bashir (Jalal Altawil) when asked by activists to show... Read More

‘Priscilla’ Review: Cailee Spaeny is Pitch-Perfect in Sofia Coppola’s Demythologized Look at the Presleys | Venice

Savina Petkova September 4, 2023

Sofia Coppola is back on the Lido once again for the first time since she presented Somewhere in 2010. One of the most anticipated titles... Read More

‘The Theory of Everything’ Review: Timm Kroeger’s Sophomore Feature is a Pulpy Adventure, as Impressive as it is Baffling | Venice

Adam Solomons September 4, 2023

You can tell that Timm Kroeger was a cinematographer before he was a director. The German filmmaker’s second feature, following 2014’s well-regarded The Council of... Read More