Venice Review: ‘The Lord Of The Ants’ Addresses Homosexuality Under Fascist Rule

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Gianni Amelio’s “Lord of the Ants,” a biopic of Italian poet and playwright Aldo Braibanti, who was jailed in 1968 due to a Fascist-era anti-gay law, has reached the top spot at Italy’s box office following its launch from the Venice Film Festival. “Ants” on Monday reached the numero uno position at the local box office roster with a €483,474 ($487,000) intake from more than 300 screens following its September 8 release. While far from stellar in normal times, this result is being hailed as an encouraging sign for the country’s still sagging post-pandemic theatrical sector. Amelio’s film is now ahead of Japanese anime pic “Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo,” which was released as an event on Monday for a three day run, and “Minions: The Rise of Gru,” which is at the end of its run, following it’s Aug. 18 Italian outing.

A reformed criminal goes on the run in The Hanging Sun, an adaptation of Jo Nesbo’s novel Midnight Sun. The author also co-writes the screenplay of this fiction feature debut from Francesco Carrozzini, the photographer who helmed the documentary Franca: Chaos and Creation. The closing film of Venice Film Festival, it’s well performed and gripping enough, though geographically confusing.

Manori Ravindran International Editor Magnolia Pictures has acquired the North American rights to Venice Film Festival sensation “Blue Jean.” The directorial debut of Georgia Oakley, which just world-premiered in the Venice Days section of the Italian festival, is set in England in 1988, where Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government is about to pass a law stigmatizing gays and lesbians. The new legislation forces Jean (Rosy McEwen), a closeted gym teacher, to live a double life. But as pressure mounts from all sides, the arrival of a new student catalyzes a crisis that will challenge Jean to her core.

A disparate group of characters collide in Dry (Siccita), a semi-apocalyptic drama premiering out of competition at the Venice Film Festival. Paolo Virzi directs this glossy portmanteau film that assembles a strong cast for overlapping storylines and satirical social comment. 

New Girl cast member Zooey Deschanel has been going strong with Property Brothers’ star Jonathan Scott for about three years now, much to the delight of their many fans. The couple didn’t hesitate to go Instagram official in October 2019, shortly after meeting on an episode of Carpool Karaoke, and have since given their followers several glimpses into their life together.

Jodie Turner-Smith stepped out in another colorful look for the 2022 amfAR Venice Gala held at Arsenale on Wednesday night (September 7) in Venice, Italy.

Tilda Swinton is gracing the red carpet at the 2022 Venice Film Festival!

Ellie Goulding showed off her incredible figure at the amfAR Gala at the 79th Venice International Film Festival on Wednesday. The singer, 35, was joined by Jodie Turner-Smith who wows in a bold skirt that she teamed with a corset top at the charity event that benefits AIDS research. Ellie's wet-look metallic gown clung perfectly to her gym-honed physique as she flashed a glimpse of her lithe legs through a daring thigh-high split.

Caylee Cowan waves at the cameras after arriving at the airport with Casey Affleck in Venice, Italy on Tuesday (September 6).

Rege-Jean Page is joined by his longtime girlfriend Emily Brown as they leave for the Venice Airport on Tuesday (September 6) in Venice, Italy.

Anna Tingley If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. There’s been no lack of drama at this year’s Venice Film Festival thanks to the behind-the-scenes tabloid gossip circulating around Olivia Wilde’s “Don’t Worry Darling,” which premiered on Monday. So, it’s only fitting that Harry Styles landed in Venice in a dramatic fit. Styles, who stars as the cunning suburban husband to Florence Pugh’s Alice in the retro thriller, arrived at the Venice Airport sporting a ’70s-inspired ensemble courtesy of Gucci, who Styles has been in collaboration with since last June. He sported the Italian label’s double-breasted jacket in burgundy, monogram sweater vest, flare jeans and Adidas x Gucci Gazelle sneakers.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor Berlin-based sales outfit M-Appeal has closed distribution deals for Italy and Greece following the film’s world premiere at the Venice Film Festival. The Israeli-Ukrainian co-production plays in Venice’s Horizons Extra section, and will have its North American premiere on Sept. 14 at Toronto Film Festival in the Contemporary World Cinema section. Rome-based P.F.A Films Srl will distribute the film in Italy, with a theatrical release planned for April 2023. The company’s recent titles include “Fabian – Going to the Dogs” by Dominik Graf, “The Audition” by Ina Weisse, and “Border” by Abbasi Ali.

Tilda Swinton is switching up her look.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Francesco Zippel’s Sergio Leone doc, which premieres on Tuesday at the Venice Film Festival, is the first portrait of the Italian master made with full support of his children Raffaella and Andrea. Titled “Sergio Leone: The Man Who Invented America,” the high-profile doc is premiering in the Venice Classics section for docs on cinema. It features an impressive list of voices holding forth on what makes Leone special for them. Among these are: Clint Eastwood, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Quentin Tarantino, Giuseppe Tornatore, Frank Miller, Darren Aronofsky, Damien Chazelle and Robert De Niro (see clip). But aside from Leone’s visionary talent as a director what emerges is that as his career escalated from the so-called “Dollars Trilogy” to “Once Upon a Time in the West” through to his final masterpiece, “Once Upon a Time in America,” Leone’s life was steeped in two inextricably linked passions: film and family. 

An eccentric 20-something tries to make friends in Amanda, a first feature for Italian writer-director Carolina Cavalli. Premiering in Venice’s Horizons Extra section, it’s a comical, stylized character portrait with a strong central turn from Benedetta Porcaroli. 

Florence Pugh had the best red carpet date at the Don’t Worry Darling premiere – her grandmother, Pat!

Florence Pugh made a sparkling statement on the 79th Venice International Film Festival red carpet on Monday. The actress is in Italy for the premiere of Olivia Wilde's forthcoming film  where Pugh stars opposite Harry Styles. Pugh brought her grandmother as her date for the premiere, and the two walked the red carpet in perfect style.

Ana de Armas steals a kiss from boyfriend Paul Boukadakis as they catch a water taxi to their hotel in Venice, Italy.

Florence Pugh looks so stunning at the premiere of Don’t Worry Darling during the 2022 Venice International Film Festival on Monday (September 5) in Venice, Italy

Harry Styles shows off his sharp fashion style on the red carpet at the premiere of Don’t Worry Darling during the 2022 Venice International Film Festival on Monday (September 5) in Venice, Italy