We’d be surprised if you hadn’t at least heard of Olivia Wilde’s Don’t Worry Darling, which will make its debut at the 79th Venice International Film Festival. It may be the most anticipated film of the esteemed event, but there are plenty of other movies you should also watch out for. Venice is a big launching point for awards season, so what does well here could likely take over the Oscars next year. And if not, it’s still likely you’ll find a host of good films to watch. See below for nine movies from the festival you need to keep your eye on.
Directed by Santiago Mitre, who co-wrote the screenplay with Mariano Llinás, Argentina 1985 tells the real-life story of public prosecutors Julio Strassera and Luis Moreno Ocampo, who investigated and prosecuted Argentina’s bloodiest military dictatorship. The David vs. Goliath-like battle stars the prolific Ricardo Darín alongside Peter Lanzani, Alejandra Flechner, Santiago Armas, Laura Paredes and Carlos Portaluppi.
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Alejandro G. Iñárritu is back with another two-hours-plus movie. With music from The National’s Bryce Dessner, Bardo captures the story of renowned Mexican journalist Silverio who, after winning a prestigious award, must return home for what ends up being a life-changing, existential trip.
Based on the novel by Joyce Carol Oates, the Marilyn Monroe biopic hits Venice before making its wider premiere on Netflix. Ana de Armas takes on the starring role as Norma Jeane navigates stardom, romance and the widening gap between her public and private selves. It also features Adrien Brody, Bobby Cannavale, Xavier Samuel, Julianne Nicholson and Lily Fisher.
Director Luca Guadagnino and Timothée Chalamet team up again for a story about first love, coming-of-age and cannibalism. “There is something about the disenfranchised, about people living on the margins of society that I am drawn towards and touched by,” Guadagnino said. “I love these characters. The heart of the movie is tender and affectionate towards them.”
Tick. Tock. It’s only a matter of time before the facade of a perfect life shatters. In Olivia Wilde’s mystery thriller, Alice (Florence Pugh) and Jack (Harry Styles) live in an idyllic, but experimental town that houses the men who work for the top-secret Victory Project. Alice starts to notice cracks in this lifestyle, revealing something much more sinister beneath the surface, leading her to the dilemma of exposing the truth or living life in paradise.
First look at Tilda Swinton in Joanna Hogg’s “THE ETERNAL DAUGHTER” pic.twitter.com/chzhzjpO94
— Films to Films (@FilmstoFilms_) July 28, 2022
Secrets drive a number of Venice films, including director Joanna Hogg’s tale of an artist and her elderly mother who must confront the buried truth when they return to their old home that has been turned into a hotel now haunted by a mysterious past. Its stars Tilda Swinton, Joseph Mydell and Carly-Sophia Davies.
Slasher fans will be excited to learn the origin story of Pearl, the murderous villain of last year’s A24 hit X. Set during the era of World War I, Pearl (Mia Goth) is forced to care for her ailing father under the eye of her devout mom. Trapped on the isolated family farm, Pearl longs for a glamorous life and her ambitions, temptations and repressions all come to collide.
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We’ve got Brendan Fraser and Sadie Sink— need we say more? The Darren Aronofsky film captures the efforts of a reclusive English teacher who attempts to reconnect with his estranged teen daughter for one final chance for redemption. “People struggling with obesity are often judged, dismissed, and defined by it,” Aronofsky said. “When I saw [screenwriter] Sam Hunter’s play eight years ago, I marveled at the depth of his characters, especially Charlie, and was inspired to use the silver screen to put audiences in Charlie’s shoes, to steep in his deepest thoughts, regrets, and hopes.”
There is spectacularity in ordinary life— at least according to Noah Baumbach’s newest film. Set to music from Danny Elfman, White Noise is based on the 1985 book of the same name and explores the life of a contemporary American family who grapple with everyday life, love, death and the possibility of happiness. The star-studded cast includes Adam Driver, Greta Gerwig, Don Cheadle, Raffey Cassidy, Sam Nivola, May Nivola, Jodie Turner-Smith, André L. Benjamin and Lars Eidinger.
See also: Inside The Academy Museum's Chronicling Of U.S. Black Cinema
Photography by: Courtesy of Netflix
