By Eili Cordova
07 Sep 2024, 22:27 PM EDT
The famous Pedro Almodóvar took home the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, achieving this milestone thanks to his film ‘The Room Next Door’, the Spaniard’s first feature film in English.
Almodóvar’s film achieved great recognition and surpassed other outstanding productions that competed for the coveted award.
The closing gala, hosted by Italian actress Sveva Alviti, was presided over by renowned French actress Isabelle Huppert.
At an event that brought together the most prominent figures in international cinema, The jury decided that Almodóvar’s film, acclaimed for its originality and emotional depth, deserved the Golden Lion.
A tough competition
The film was competing in a highly competitive category, with strong contenders such as the long-awaited sequel to ‘Joker’, the gay drama ‘Queer’ directed by Luca Guadagnino and starring Daniel Craig, and the biopic ‘María’, about the soprano Maria Callas, directed by Chilean Pablo Larraín and starring Angelina Jolie.
In his acceptance speech, Almodóvar, who had already won an Oscar for Best Foreign Film for ‘All About My Mother’, expressed his gratitude towards his leading actresses, Julianne Moore and Tilda Swinton.
The director highlighted the crucial role of the actresses in the success of the film, describing his work as a “miracle.”
“It’s a film about two women, who are themselves. As a director, one of the privileges is that we are the first destination when a miracle happens in front of the camera. Both Tilda and Julianne have summoned a miracle many days of this shoot and I can never thank them enough.,” Almodóvar said.
What is the movie about?
The film, which explores the complex relationships between Martha, a war correspondent played by Swinton, and Ingrid, a writer played by Moore, addresses profound themes about freedom and the right to decide one’s own destiny.
In his speech, Almodóvar stressed that “saying goodbye to this world is a fundamental right of every human being” and that “human beings must be free to live and to die when life becomes unbearable.”
Besides, The Venice jury awarded the Volpi Cup to Nicole Kidman for her outstanding performance in ‘Babygirl’However, the actress was unable to attend the closing ceremony due to the death of her mother, despite having walked the runway at the premiere of her film a few days earlier.
The 2024 Venice Film Festival is a vibrant and exciting stage in the world of cinema. Pedro Almodóvar’s recognition with the Golden Lion is a testament to his talent and the continued relevance of his work in the international film scene.
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