The two Polish films premiering in Venice are Agnieszka Holland's Green Border, a drama on the refugee crisis at Poland’s border with Belarus, and Małgorzata Szumowska and Michał Englert's Woman Of, a production telling the story of a transsexual woman, set against the landscape of Poland’s transition from communism to free market capitalism.
The festival will open with Comandante, an Italian film directed by Eduardo de Angelis. The movie delves into the story of an Italian submarine commander who, during World War II, sank a Belgian ship but decided against orders to rescue its crew.
Bradley Cooper's biographical drama Maestro, which explores the life of renowned composer Leonard Bernstein, is a favorite for the Golden Lion, according to Italian film critics.
Cooper, who also stars in the film, is among the many Hollywood talents who will be absent from the event due to an ongoing strike by Hollywood actors and screenwriters.
In a non-competitive showcase, veteran filmmakers Roman Polanski and Woody Allen will present their latest works. The jury will be chaired by American director Damien Chazelle, an Oscar winner best known for his work on La La Land.
The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on September 9.
(jh/gs)
Source: PAP