Pedro Almodóvar began to make a name for himself on the international scene in Venice. There he made his debut at a major festival with Entre tinieblas in 1983 and won the award for best screenplay for Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios in 1988. Decades later, the Festival awarded him its honorary award and now, has won the Golden Lion for The Next Room.
His first English language film The awards and festival season in what is considered one of the most prestigious film competitions in the world could not have started better. Along with Julianne Moore y Tilda Swinton has composed a story about the defense of a dignified lifesolidarity and friendship between two women with an almost poetic language that only he knows how to capture.
His victory is historic for Spanish cinema, since It is the first Golden Lion that a national film has won.although Luis Buñuel won in the category of Best Director for Belle de jour. In short, another page in our cinema written by the filmmaker from La Mancha.
Pedro Almodóvar with his first Golden Lion | Reuters
Almodóvar went up to collect his award amid much emotion and cheers. In his speech he barely managed to contain himself when mentioning his leading duo: “As a director, one of the privileges is to be the first witness when a miracle happens in front of the camera. and both Tilda and Julianne have conjured up a miracle many days of this shoot and I can never thank them enough.”
Likewise, one of the most applauded moments was his tribute to people who wish to have a dignified death: “Human beings must be free to live and to die when life becomes unbearable.“.
Pedro Almodóvar wins the Golden Lion at the 81st Venice Film Festival | Getty Images
“Accompanying a terminally ill person, knowing how to be there for them, sometimes without saying a word, is one of the greatest qualities that we humans possess. The film speaks, among other things, not only of the boundless solidarity of Julianne Moore’s character, but also of Tilda Swinton’s character’s decision to end her life when it only offers her insoluble pain. I believe that saying goodbye to this world with cleanliness and dignity is a fundamental right of every human being. It is not a political issue, but a human one, and it must be addressed from the perspective of humanity.“, he claimed.
After, He addressed the religionsasking “practitioners of any faith to respect and not intervene in individual decisions.”
Pedro Almodóvar wins Golden Lion for The Next Room | Reuters
Complete list of winners of the 81st edition of the Mostra
The last night of the 81st Venice Film Festival brought a varied list of winners: Silver Lion Grand Jury Prizewas for the Italian director Maura Delpero by Vermigliothe story of a family in an isolated Alpine village that is shaken by the arrival of a soldier from the front of World War II.
Maura Delpero wins Grand Jury Prize for Vermiglio | Reuters
The third most important award, the Silver Lion for Best Directorended up in the hands of the American Brady Corbet por The Brutalistabout a Hungarian Jew played by Adrien Brody who emigrates to the United States in 1947 to face the American dream.
The Coppa Volpi for Best Actor It was for the French Vincent Lindon for playing a courageous father who faces the recruitment of one of his sons by the far right of his country in Play with fire.
Vincent Lindon poses with the Volpi Cup for best actor for Playing with Fire | Reuters
And the Best Actress It was the Australian Nicole Kidman for his role in Babygirla metaphor for sexual liberation, although He couldn’t pick it up because of his mother’s death..
The Special Jury Prize has fallen on the film Aprila hyperrealistic drama about abortion in the rural world and underage pregnancies by the Georgian director Dea Kulumbegashviliwho won the Golden Shell at San Sebastián and other awards with his debut Beginning (2020).
The French Paul Kircher took the prize Marcello Mastroianni al best emerging actor.
Best Screenplay It was for I’m still hereBrazilian film WalterIn this about the dictatorship in his country written by Murilo Hauser and Heitor Lorega.
