VENICE FILM FESTIVAL 2024: SIMONE BOZZELLI UNVEILS HIS CURATED LIST OF UNMISSABLE FILMS

Why have so many leading men ditched the tie on the red carpet? And how exactly did the festival organizers manage to keep Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie from crossing paths? While the gossip swirls, we’re here to focus on what truly matters: the films. And who better to guide us than Simone Bozzelli, a rising star in Italian cinema.

Simone Bozzelli is making waves as one of the most promising directors of his generation. Known for directing a music video for global rock sensation Måneskin, Bozzelli has also made his mark with a series of compelling short-films like ‘J’ador’ and ‘Giochi’. In 2023, he made his feature film debut with ‘Patagonia’, a striking exploration of youth, love, and the elaborate pattern of emotions. Bozzelli’s fresh perspective and innovative storytelling have quickly established him as a director to watch, and his picks for the Venice Film Festival are not to be missed.

SECTION: COMPETITION

After the masterpieces The Childhood of a Leader and Vox Lux, we expect Brady Corbet to surpass himself with The Brutalist. Shot (and projected) in 70mm with an impressive runtime, the film tells the story of László Tóth, a Jewish architect who emigrated from Hungary to the United States in 1947. Forced to work hard and live in poverty, his life changes with a contract that will define the next thirty years. With solid and unsettling direction, The Brutalist promises to be Corbet’s most magnificent work yet.

      SECTION: COMPETITION 

Among the most interesting Italian filmmakers, Piazza and Grassadonia bring to the Lido a story centered around the ‘pizzini’, fragments of the mosaic of Matteo Messina Denaro’s life, one of the greatest criminals of our time. Set in Sicily in the early 2000s, Iddu tells the story of Catello, a seasoned politician who finds himself involved in a hunt for his godson Matteo, the notorious mafia fugitive. The film explores the emotional void and the masks of power within a mafia context. Iddu is undoubtedly the most anticipated Italian film in the competition.

SECTION: THE VENICE INTERNATIONAL FILM CRITICS’ WEEK

Amid the carefully curated selection of the Venice International Film Critics’ Week, led by Beatrice Fiorentino—where the boundaries of new cinema are truly explored—this is one of the most anticipated films. Vietnamese director Duong Dieu Linh, young and innovative, tells unconventional stories of middle-aged women trapped in their own anxieties. Her short films blend hyperrealism and “slice of life” with elements of magical realism rooted in popular superstitions, promising a captivating and touching cinematic experience.

SECTION: VENICE DAYS 

First and foremost, this film is a must-see because it features Asia Argento, a living icon of cinema, now at the height of her craft as an actress. Director Camille Lugan also brings significant experience, having spent years as an assistant director to the legendary Jacques Audiard. Selon Joy is set in a bleak, desolate city where Joy, an orphan with deep faith, rarely leaves her church—until the day she meets Andriy, a young man who is beaten in front of her. She soon realizes that their paths are destined to cross. This marks the directorial debut of Camille Lugan, a rising talent in French cinema who has co-written several feature films and directed successful short films.

SECTION: OUT OF COMPETITION

Fabrice du Welz is one of the most underrated directors of all time, but he’s one of my absolute favorites. Since his unforgettable debut with Calvaire, Du Welz has explored the destructive impulses of desire with a visceral and intensely carnal style. In Maldoror, Du Welz once again confronts the dark side of the human soul and the pursuit of justice. When two girls go missing, Paul Chartier, a young and impulsive police officer, is assigned to a secret unit tasked with monitoring a sexual predator. When the operation fails, Chartier decides to take matters into his own hands. With Maldoror, Du Welz offers a deep reflection on human darkness and resilience, promising an intense and provocative cinematic experience.

          SECTION: OUT OF COMPETITION 

You just need one reason: Harmony Korine.