International Desk (EFE).- The Venice Film Festival on Tuesday hosted premieres ranging from Marc Jacobs’ personal documentary directed by Sofia Coppola, to Kathryn Bigelow’s nuclear thriller “A House of Dynamite,” François Ozon’s adaptation of Camus’ “The Stranger,” and Stillz’s Colombian odyssey “Barrio Triste.”
Each screening brought global debates, from fashion identity to nuclear risks and colonial memory, to the festival stage.
Fashion designer Marc Jacobs presented Marc by Sofia, a documentary by Coppola that explores his creative world and personal openness.
“I have discovered that it benefits me not to feel shame,” Jacobs said during the presentation. “The only way is being direct, open, and honest.”
The film revisits his childhood in New York, his grandmother’s influence, and his rise from Perry Ellis to Louis Vuitton before founding his brand.
Kathryn Bigelow warns of nuclear risks
Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow premiered “A House of Dynamite,” which portrays United States leaders facing 19 minutes to decide the response to an unidentified nuclear missile.
“How can the annihilation of the world be a good defensive measure?” she asked.
Bigelow said she hopes the film sparks debate on disarmament: “We are really living in a house of dynamite.”
“There are nine countries with nuclear arsenals and enough weapons to destroy civilization several times,” said screenwriter Noah Oppenheim.
Actors Idris Elba and Rebecca Ferguson, who play US officials, described the shoot as “intense and ultra-realistic.” Ferguson said the story made her understand “the fragility we live in, even in times of peace.”
Global stories from Colombia and France
In “Barrio Triste,” Colombian-American filmmaker Stillz, known for working with Bad Bunny, delivered a gritty tale of Medellín gangs in the 1980s, produced by Harmony Korine with music by Arca.
The film, competing in Venice’s Horizons section, follows young gang members in a violent suburb where myths of lights and monsters collide with daily survival.
Stillz appeared masked at the premiere, with the festival quoting him: “They told stories without an ending. I wanted to know where they had gone.”
French director François Ozon also premiered his version of Albert Camus’ “The Stranger,” filmed in black and white to evoke colonial Algeria.
“I wanted to give the story a look of today and contextualize French colonization,” Ozon said.
The filmmaker changed the opening line of the novel to highlight colonial realities: “Instead of ‘Today mother died,’ I chose ‘I killed an Arab.’”
Benjamin Voisin stars as Meursault, while Rebecca Marder plays Marie.
Ozon emphasized that the adaptation also reflects personal memory: “My grandfather was a judge in Algiers. Every French family has some link with Algeria, often forgotten.” EFE
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