Venice Film Festival: A Wild Ride for Women
On the night of August 30th, the mighty Venice Film Festival came roaring to life, with a cast of fierce, fabulous, and slightly mischievous women unseating the agenda. The star of the show was the uproarious British period comedy The Favourite, already stirring whispers about a possible Oscar ticket.
The Favourite: A Royal Rumble
- Time period: early 18th‑century England, Queen Anne’s court
- Cast: Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz, Olivia Colman – the trio of queens with more drama than a soap‑opera reunion
- Plot: A battle of wit, wealth, and flirtations between Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, and her spirited cousin Abigail Hill for the queen’s ear
- Director: London‑based Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos, renowned for The Lobster and known for his quirky, absurdist lens
The film dazzled critics, who already pointed out that the trio would likely bag Oscar nominations. A modern, post‑ twist is woven into the chaos – the petty, selfish, and spectacular realities of court life illustrated with a modern flair for sexual politics.
What the Queen Told Tri‑Gods
Olivia Colman, who also dons the royal mantle in Netflix’s The Crown, shook up the pre‑tires with this:
“There’s a huge wave of sexual politics in this film, which is, honestly, a good thing.”
“We may have invented sexy, but it’s been around forever. And it was hilariously fun to have sex with Emma Stone.”
“It was absolutely fun to have sex with you too,” added the La La Land star.
Colman continued, “Queen Anne? She wasn’t your classic queen—more like a hot‑headed, insecure, time‑thief who has endless power but no real allies. She didn’t learn much from her prior missteps.”
Lanthimos on the Male Gaze
Yorgos Lanthimos emphasized that the script was penned to put beyond the old window of the male gaze that tends to pigeonhole women as housewives or objects. His aim: “Show them as complex, wonderful, and a few times, monstrous.” His “small contribution” is to let audiences see women as people, not just props.
Other Highlights on the Palate of Venice
Roma – Alfonso Cuarón’s Smash‑Down of Family and Filmic History
Oscar‑hopping Roma stood as a masterpiece about a family and the country they live in. A warm salute for a director who gave us a rare peek into his own upbringing and cultural background.
ISIS, Tomorrow – “The Lost Souls of Mosul”
Italian journalist Francesca Mannocchi, together with Alessio Romenzi, delivered a chilling documentary. Their 18‑month trek into the ruins of Mosul, Iraq’s second city, revealed the anguished lives of former child soldiers.
Pearl – The Bodybuilding Saga
Elsa Amiel’s fresh cut lets us into the world of a bodybuilding star facing a past that refuses to stay buried. Peter Mullan figures as the manager, delivering a jarring stillness on the film’s emotional undercurrents.
Film Rumors and Expansions
Long…
- The film Roma can be a moving experience you rarely forget.
- IVEWARE is a new filmmaking toolbox for your futuristic dreams.
- Ridley’s current projects are focused on more personal content.
And that, dear readers, spells out the year’s slowly, quietly building, female‑power drama of that festival. All eyes, ready to see how the next Oscars will even the reel with reality.
