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On this final day of the 2024 Venice Film Festival, we look back at an edition marked by the diversity of its cinematic offerings. Films about surveillance, the mafia, and a revisited classic have captivated the audience.
The 2024 Venice Film Festival shined with its diversity of offerings, ranging from a Singaporean thriller to an intense mafia tale and a gothic revival. The films Stranger Eyes, Iddu, and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice showcase a festival rich in varied themes, from the perils of surveillance to the perpetuation of cinematic myths.
Photo Credit: Alberto Pizzoli / AFP
Stranger Eyes, the first Singaporean thriller in competition in Venice, delves into themes of voyeurism and surveillance. Directed by Yeo Siew Hua, the film begins with the mysterious disappearance of a little girl in Singapore. The parents’ quest for truth unveils a series of recordings of their own conversations, highlighting a society accustomed to both monitoring and being monitored. Yeo, previously recognized at the Locarno Festival in 2018, continues to weave narratives reflecting the complexities of modern urban life.
Tim Burton returns with Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, a sequel to his cult classic that blends horror and humor with a touch of nostalgia. Thirty-six years later, Michael Keaton reprises his role as the bio-exorcist, sharing the screen with Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara. The film maintains the original spirit while addressing themes of aging and change, focusing on intergenerational cohabitation in a ghostly setting. Disenchanted with the modern film industry, Burton returns to a more artisanal style, using makeup and puppets to capture the essence of his unique universe.
The film Iddu, inspired by the life of Matteo Messina Denaro, portrays a dark chapter in Italian history. Directors Fabio Grassadonia and Antonio Piazza, known for their exploration of the Sicilian mafia, paint a complex portrait of the criminal’s long evasion of capture and the power systems that supported it. Featuring Elio Germano, the film dives into the intricacies of mafia influence, highlighting the tragic impact of this reality on Italian society.
Photo Credit: Alberto Pizzoli / AFP
These three films, while divergent in their approach and style, reflected a festival that remains a crossroads of bold ideas and deep reflections. The Venice Film Festival continues to serve as a showcase for the diversity of global cinematic talent and narratives, offering audiences a mosaic of films that are remarkable in both form and content.
As the festival draws to a close, excitement is at its peak on this final day of the Mostra. The winners will be announced tonight during the closing ceremony, marking the highlight of this 2024 edition. The announcement of the awards is always a significant moment that generates much interest and discussion in the film world. The awards given will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the careers of the winning films and their creators, offering them increased visibility on the international cinema scene.
With AFP
