The dark drama “Joker” about the origins of the villainous character won
the Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday, while Roman
Polanski’s military drama about France’s notorious Dreyfus affair took the
runner-up prize.
Joaquin Phoenix, who won rave reviews from critics at the festival, plays
Batman’s nemesis, and the story follows his transformation from vulnerable
loner to confident villain.
“Joker” distances itself from typical superhero films, with director Todd
Phillips, who said he took inspiration from 1970s character study movies, using
somber lighting and dark music throughout.
In a surprise move, Polanski’s “An Officer and a Spy” took the runner-up
Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize.
At a time of #MeToo and with only two female directors out of 21 in the
competition line-up, festival organizers had faced criticism for including
Polanski’s work in the program due to renewed controversy over his conviction
for a sex crime.
Polanski, who fled the United States after pleading guilty in 1977 to
having unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl in Los Angeles, did not travel to
Venice for the festival.
His actress wife Emmanuelle Seigner, who stars in the film, collected the
award on his behalf.
Italian actor Luca Marinelli won the best actor award for his portrayal of
a poor, aspiring writer in “Martin Eden” while French actress Ariane Ascaride
won the best actress award for “Gloria Mundi” in which she plays a mother
desperate to help her financially strapped family.
The Silver Lion award for best director went to Sweden’s Roy Andersson for
“About Endlessness”, a collage of short stories of kindness and cruelty.
Italian director Franco Maresca won the Special Jury Prize for his satirical
documentary film “Mafia Is No Longer What It Used to Be”.
The award for best screenplay went to Chinese filmmaker Yonfan for the
animation “No. 7 Cherry Lane”, a romance set in late 1960s Hong Kong.
