US independent director Jim Jarmusch proves surprise Venice winner

US independent director Jim Jarmusch proves surprise Venice winner

By Crispian Balmer VENICE (Reuters) -U.S. indie director Jim Jarmusch unexpectedly won the coveted Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday with "Father Mother Sister Brother", a three-part meditation on the uneasy ties between parents and their adult children. Although his gentle comedy received largely positive reviews, it had not been a favourite for the top prize, with many critics instead tipping "The Voice of Hind Rajab", a harrowing true-life account of the killing of a five-year-old Palestinian girl during the Gaza war. In the end, the film directed by Tunisia's Kaouther Ben Hania took the runner-up Silver Lion. Divided into chapters set in New Jersey, Dublin and Paris, "Father Mother Sister Brother" features an ensemble cast including Tom Waits, Adam Driver, Mayim Bialik, Charlotte Rampling, Cate Blanchett, Vicky Krieps, Indya Moore and Luka Sabbat. Each instalment drifts gently through domestic encounters where nothing much happens, but small gestures and silences sketch out the generational awkwardness that can beset families. "All of us here who make films, we're not motivated by competition. But this is something I truly appreciate, this unexpected honour," said Jarmusch, who made his name in the 1980s with offbeat, low-budget works such as "Down by Law". In other categories, Italy's Toni Servillo was named best actor for his wry portrayal of a weary president nearing the end of his mandate in "La Grazia", directed by his long-time collaborator Paolo Sorrentino. China's Xin Zhilei won best actress for her role in "The Sun Rises On Us All", a drama directed by Cai Shangjun that delves into questions of sacrifice, guilt and unresolved feelings between estranged lovers who share a dark secret. The Venice festival marks the start of the awards season and regularly throws up big favourites for the Oscars, with films premiering here over the past four years collecting more than 90 Oscar nominations and winning almost 20. GAZA TO THE FORE Venice has often been seen as the most glamorous and least political of the major film festivals, but in 2025 the movies that made the strongest impact focused on current events, with the ongoing Israeli invasion of Gaza casting a long shadow. As he unveiled his own picture last weekend, Jarmusch acknowledged that he was concerned that one of his main distributors had taken money from a company with ties to the Israeli military. "The Voice of Hind Rajab", which uses the real audio of a young girl's desperate pleas for help as her car comes under Israeli gunfire, was the fan favourite, winning a record 24-minute standing ovation at its premiere. "Cinema cannot bring Hind back, nor can it erase the atrocity committed against her. Nothing can ever restore what was taken, but cinema can preserve her voice, make it resonate across borders," Ben Hania said on Saturday night. "Her voice will continue to echo until accountability is real, until justice is served." The best director nod went to Benny Safdie for "The Smashing Machine", which starred Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in the role of the real-life mixed martial arts pioneer Mark Kerr. "To be here amongst the giants of the past and the giants here this year, it just blows my mind," said Safdie, who has previously co-directed films with his brother Josh. The special jury award went to Italy's Gianfranco Rosi for his black-and-white documentary "Below the Clouds", about life in the chaotic southern city of Naples, marked by repeated earthquakes and the threat of volcanic eruptions. Among the movies that left Venice empty-handed were a trio of Netflix pictures, Kathryn Bigelow's nuclear thriller "A House of Dynamite", Guillermo del Toro's re-telling of "Frankenstein" and Noah Baumbach's comedy-drama "Jay Kelly". "No Other Choice" by South Korea's Park Chan-wook also failed to secure an award, despite strong reviews, likewise "Bugonia" by Yorgos Lanthimos, which starred Emma Stone. The main jury was chaired by U.S. director Alexander Payne, joined by fellow filmmakers Stéphane Brizé, Maura Delpero, Cristian Mungiu and Mohammad Rasoulof, alongside actresses Fernanda Torres and Zhao Tao. (Reporting by Crispian Balmer and Roberto Mignucci; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)

byAlpha World

in

September 06, 2025

US independent director Jim Jarmusch proves surprise Venice winner

US independent director Jim Jarmusch proves surprise Venice winner By Crispian Balmer VENICE (Reuters) -U.S. indie director Jim Jarmusch une...

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Jerry O'Connell recalls advice from River Phoenix's family during “Stand by Me”: 'They're the kindest'

Jerry O'Connell recalls advice from River Phoenix's family during "Stand by Me": 'They're the kindest'

Columbia Pictures Jerry O'Connellrecently recalled the support he received from his lateStand by MecostarRiver Phoenixand his family. In a recent episode ofBurtcast, the actor said that Phoenix was one of the "most talented, most beautiful" people he knew. O'Connell said Phoenix's mother advised his parents on getting him an agent following the success ofStand by Me. "She was like, 'Hey, Linda. This movie's a hit. You got to get an agent. This is what's got to happen,'" he said. "That's when I got an agent and everything, but it was so funny." O'Connell and his own family were inexperienced with show business. The TV host's father had initially believed thatStand by Mewould never get released. The patriarch had seen other people create and fail to release films in the past. "It's behind you," O'Connell remembered his father saying. "It was a fun experience. Now, we get back to real life. Okay. I don't want to hear about it ever again." TheSlidersactor proved his dad wrong, asStand by Mebecame a hit among critics and at the box office. It has become a classic in the coming-of-age genre. Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection Want more movie news? Sign up forEntertainment Weekly's free newsletterto get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews, and more. TheKangaroo Jackstar said he had grown up distrusting of people because of the environment he was raised in. However, the Phoenix family had immediately let him in. "I have a real bond with all the Phoenixes, all of them, because they're the kindest family," O'Connell said. River Phoenix died of a drug overdose at the age of 23 on Oct. 31, 1993. Even during his short life, he racked up numerous accomplishments, including an Academy Award nomination for his role in 1988'sRunning on Empty. Listen to the full Burtcast with Jerry O'Connell below. Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

byAlpha World

in

September 06, 2025

Jerry O'Connell recalls advice from River Phoenix's family during “Stand by Me”: 'They're the kindest'

Jerry O'Connell recalls advice from River Phoenix's family during "Stand by Me": 'They're the kindest' Columbi...

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Poland buries wartime remains in western Ukraine as part of reconciliation

Poland buries wartime remains in western Ukraine as part of reconciliation

PUZHNYKY, Ukraine (Reuters) -Remains of Poles killed by Ukrainian nationalist insurgents during World War Two were buried in western Ukraine on Saturday as officials from both countries looked on, a move to ease a rare strain in relations between the two close allies. Poland was allowed to exhume the remains in the former Polish village of Puzniki, in present-day Ukraine, earlier this year after longstanding demands from Warsaw over the issue, which has caused friction between the neighbouring countries. With Polish Catholic priests officiating, the simple wooden coffins of 42 Poles, each marked with a cross and flanked by wooden cross, were placed in a long, narrow grave in a wooded, abandoned cemetery. Lanterns and wreaths draped in Polish red and white and Ukrainian yellow and blue colours were laid alongside. "The victims of the Puzniki massacre rested in an unmarked grave for decades, but their memory endures for their loved ones and those who fought for this remembrance, truth, and act of elementary justice," Polish Culture Minister Marta Cienkowska was quoted as saying by state news agency PAP. "Today's burial is a restoration of dignity to those who had it stripped from them in the most inhumane way." Cienkowska expressed confidence that it would be possible to locate and identify remaining victims, according to PAP. Survivor Maria Jarzycka-Wroblewska, 90, said groups of men had assured residents they would be safe and then the killings occurred overnight. "No one in my immediate family was murdered here, but neighbours, friends and even a distant cousin were," she said. "Thank God that the Ukrainian authorities and the Poles came to an agreement and this is finally done...You cannot put all Ukrainians in the same basket." The abandoned village is among sites where Polish officials say more than 100,000 people were killed by insurgents between 1943 and 1945. Large swathes of modern-day western Ukraine were under Polish control at the time. The Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), which fought against both Nazi German forces and the Soviet Red Army, is widely held responsible for the killings as part of efforts to limit Polish influence over the area. The so-called Volhynia massacres have complicated relations even as Poland has backed Ukraine against Russia's 2022 invasion by supplying weapons and taking in almost a million refugees. Ukraine has rejected Poland's description of the killings as "genocide", saying thousands of Ukrainians were also killed in events that were part of a wider conflict between the neighbours. The exhumations involving around 20 specialists had been aimed at identifying victims and burying them. Polish officials have called on Ukraine to allow more operations to take place. (Additional reporting by Alan Charlish in Warsaw; Writing by Dan Peleschuk and Ron Popeski, Editing by Franklin Paul)

byAlpha World

in

September 06, 2025

Poland buries wartime remains in western Ukraine as part of reconciliation

Poland buries wartime remains in western Ukraine as part of reconciliation PUZHNYKY, Ukraine (Reuters) -Remains of Poles killed by Ukrainian...

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Pilot and influencer Ethan Guo released from Antarctic air base after two months

Pilot and influencer Ethan Guo released from Antarctic air base after two months

PUNTA ARENAS, Chile (AP) — An American social media influencer who has been stuck in a Chilean airbase in Antarctica for two months after landing a plane there without permission was released on Saturday back to the mainland, where he was to pay $30,000 in penalties. Ethan Guo, who was 19 when he began hisfundraising mission for cancer research, was attempting to become the youngest person to fly solo to all seven continents. But he was detained after Chilean authorities said he lied to officials by providing authorities with "false flight plan data." Prosecutors said he had been authorized to only fly over Punta Arenas in southern Chile, but that he kept going south, heading for Antarctica in his Cessna 182Q — a single-engine light aircraft known for its versatility. After he landed in Chile's Antarctic territory on June 28, he wasdetained in a military baseamid legal negotiations between his lawyers and the government. Guo, who is originally from Tennessee and turned 20 in July, spent two months living in the base with limited communications and freezing Antarctic winter temperatures plunging below zero. He was released by a Chilean judge on the condition that he donate the tens of thousands of dollars raised to a childhood cancer foundation within 30 days and leave the country as soon as possible. He is also banned from entering Chilean territory for three years. The influencer's lawyer Jaime Barrientos told The Associated Press that Guo landed because he had to divert his aircraft due to poor weather conditions, and that he did receive authorization from Chilean authorities. "To his surprise, when he was about to take off back to Punta Arenas he was arrested, in a process that from my perspective was a total exaggeration," Barrientos said. Barrientos said he was happy with the agreement struck with authorities. Guo landed Saturday at Punta Arenas aboard a navy ship wearing a Chilean national soccer team jersey and appeared friendly with the press after disembarking, describing his detention as "mundane" experience with "limited freedoms". "The Chilean people have been incredibly hospitable, they've been fantastic people. They've taken care of me. They've taught me Spanish, and they've treated me like family," he said.

byAlpha World

in

September 06, 2025

Pilot and influencer Ethan Guo released from Antarctic air base after two months

Pilot and influencer Ethan Guo released from Antarctic air base after two months PUNTA ARENAS, Chile (AP) — An American social media influen...

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Matthew McConaughey snuck his son into audition for new movie by hiding famous last name

Matthew McConaughey snuck his son into audition for new movie by hiding famous last name

Eric Charbonneau/Apple TV+ via Getty Matthew McConaughey's real son, Levi, plays his on-screen son inThe Lost Bus. The Oscar-winning actor revealed he snuck Levi into the audition by hiding his famous last name. He said director Paul Greengrass cast Levi without knowing he was the actor's son. Having a famous parent can get you places in Hollywood — but so can pure talent, asMatthew McConaugheyrevealed that he snuck his son, Levi Alves McConaughey, into an audition to play his on-screen kid by hiding his famous last name. After Friday night's world-premiere screening of their new movie,The Lost Bus,at the 2025Toronto International Film Festival, McConaughey spoke to the audience about how his 17-year-old son came to star with him in the film. "Levi, come on out here, bud," he said, embracing his son, who walked onstage to uproarious applause from the audience at the Princess of Wales Theatre. Eric Charbonneau/Apple TV+ via Getty McConaughey also spoke about Greengrass casting his real mother, Kay McConaughey, for a role in the film before recounting how Levi became involved. "She's always been performing, but I had no idea this young man was interested. As I pitched the script to the family, as I always do before work, there was a part about Kevin having a son. [Levi] asked me, 'How old is he?' I said, 'He's about your age.' He goes, 'Think I could read for it?'" the 55-year-old recalled. "And I didn't say anything. It wasn't enough for me to say maybe. He came back four more times. I said,Okay, now he's working for it. I said yeah. I pulled out the camera, worked with him on a scene, and sent that to [casting director] Francine Maisler." TheDallas Buyers Clubactor indicated that Maisler told him, "I think it might be good enough for a callback," and, later, that it "might be good enough to show to Paul." McConaughey said he asked Maisler to do him one favor during the process. "Will you pull the last name off so there's no McConaughey at the end of that?" he asked her. "Next call I got, [Paul] goes, 'That's the guy, that's the son!' [Francine] goes, 'That happens to be Matthew's son! And Paul goes, 'Even better!'" McConaughey and his son, whom he shares with wife Camila Alves, were joined on stage at theLost Buspremiere by many involved in the film's production, including supporting actressAmerica Ferreraand producersJason BlumandJamie Lee Curtis. Curtis told the audience that she first heard of the story in a newspaper article, and later went to Blum to secure the rights to a book based on the tragedy, written by Lizzie Johnson. The film follows the real-life story of a bus driver, Kevin McKay, and teacher Mary Ludwig, who helped drive to safety a bus full of kids amid California's 2018 Camp Fire. Apple TV/Youtube Theactress said that, in meeting the real-life Kevin and Mary for the first time, she discovered that the latter had a shocking connection to her mother, Hollywood iconJanet Leigh, who died in 2004. "She said, 'My father dated your mother.' [I asked], 'For real?' I said, 'Where?' She said, 'Merced, Calif.," Curtis told the crowd. "Now, you guys know my mother as Janet Leigh, but before she was Janet Leigh, she was Jeanette Helen Morrison from Merced, Calif., and Mary Ludwig's father dated Jeanette." After the audience gasped at the reveal, Curtis stressed that she felt the connection was destiny. Want more movie news? Sign up forEntertainment Weekly's free newsletterto get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews, and more. "This moment with Kevin and Mary was born from something much bigger," she said, celebrating "the fact that we're all here together with you at the world premiere of a movie about their story told by a master produced by a master, is just a thrilling, weird, connect-the-dots [moment]." The Lost Busenters limited theatrical release onSept. 19, before streaming Oct. 3 on Apple TV+. Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

byAlpha World

in

September 06, 2025

Matthew McConaughey snuck his son into audition for new movie by hiding famous last name

Matthew McConaughey snuck his son into audition for new movie by hiding famous last name Eric Charbonneau/Apple TV+ via Getty Matthew McCona...

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