Venezia79: Make it big

The 79th Venice Film Festival has powered through its first weekend, continuing an unusually strong lineup that is making it difficult to predict how the jury will award the winners on Saturday. I took much of Sunday off to roam around the city, eat too much food (including the three staples here: coffee, gelato and Aperol spritz) and watch the centuries-old traditional Regata Storica parade of elaborately decorated boats down the Grand Canal, followed by races between crews of standing rowers. Even so, I did see two films. Here are some highlights for Monday...

The Whale
dir Darren Aronofsky; with Brendan Fraser, Hong Chau 22/US ***.
Based on Samuel Hunter's play and retaining a stagey sense of claustrophobia, this extremely pointed drama is an unusually contained piece for Darren Aronofsky. It's a story about the power of people to impact each other for good and bad. And it is likely to divide viewers pretty much along lines of cynicism and optimism. Few viewers will be able to resist a startlingly winning performance from Brendan Fraser, even from within what's obviously an enormous fat suit. And the deeper ideas in the film deserve to strike a nerve.

Don't Worry Darling
dir Olivia Wilde; with Florence Pugh, Harry Styles 22/US ***
While this thriller is strikingly designed and directed, its story never quite digs deep enough to make the premise memorable. This is partly because the film harks back to far more nuanced variations on the theme, like The Truman Show or The Stepford Wives. But actor-director Olivia Wilde keeps things moving with a growing sense of intrigue, while deploying some properly dazzling imagery. And Florence Pugh delivers such a belting, involving central performance that everyone and everything around her pales by comparison.

Immensity [L'Immensità]
dir Emanuele Crialese; with Penelope Cruz, Luana Giuliani 22/It ****
There are lively ripples of meaning throughout this Italian drama, and because they are never shouted loudly they work their way under the skin. Recounting a clearly autobiographical story with evocative personal details, filmmaker Emanuele Crialese continues to be especially adept at isolating the identity of characters who are unable to be who they are in a society that crushes diversity. And it features a remarkably textured performance from young Luana Giuliani, who holds her own against the irresistible magic of Penelope Cruz.

Skin Deep [Aus Meiner Haut]
dir Alex Schaad; with Mala Emde, Jonas Dassler 22/Ger ****.
A sense of mystery infuses every scene in this film, with knowingly insinuating conversations and characters who clearly have tantalising secrets. And all of this is skilfully underplayed by the cast, while director Alex Schaad maintains an enticing visual sensibility that pulls the audience in further, even though the rather outrageous premise can be tricky to follow. Still, what the film has to say about how we define ourselves and each other is seriously profound, challenging us to take a fresh look at the human experience.

Full reviews will be linked at Shadows VENICE FILM FESTIVAL page, eventually!