My Second Day at the Lido

On my second day at the Festival, I had my usual early morning  and arrived at the Lido at 9 am for a walk, and to have time to read Ciak, latest gossips,  and films’ plots sitting in front of the Excelsior hotel.

At 11 I went to see Gravity, which I thought has been realized with the accuracy of a master, in technical terms, but that lacked a little bit in the screenplay, it keeps your attention alive, but, in the end, it left me disappointed. Good film overall, but it certainly isn't 2001: A Space Odyssey or Solaris. 

After a quick lunch I went queueing to see The Art of Happiness (Italian animated film) by Alessandro Rak, of which I had read very good reviews. The standing ovation for the whole crew attending the screening does not need any explanation. It was emotional, great on all levels, modern, actual, and real, the music was original, the screenplay was at a high level, and the filmmaking has nothing to envy to non-animated films.

But the moment I was looking forward to was the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement ceremony prizing William Friedkin, a unique director, in my opinion, who really changed the logic of horror films, and please remember he did not only direct The Exorcist!!

The screening before the ceremony was the restoration of Sorcerer, one of his bests, but often forgotten, films. The emotion started very early once the director and his wife entered the room, and sat a few seats ahead of mine. I just think it is amazing to watch the artists who put heart and mind in a film rewatching themselves or their work.  The characters were so well constructed in this simple, but complex story of the human binomial: good and evil. 

I had never seen someone receiving such an important prize, plus it was Mr Friedkin’s Birthday and he couldn’t be happier.

Follow this link to read Friedkin's acceptance speech: 

http://artbookscinema.blogspot.it/2013/09/william-friedkin-golden-lion-for.html

Right after the ceremony I went out and waited in front of the red carpet to see who was about to come: I had the pleasure to see Mr Friedkin again, the Italian singer Edoardo Bennato, the actor Riccardo Scamarcio, the actress Francesca Cavallin, the Festival’s godmother and model Eva Riccobono, and the amazing Mia Wasikowska, protagonist of Tracks which I was going to see on the following day.

My First Day at the Lido - 70th Venice Film Festival

For my first day in Venice, after waiting for the waterbus directly going to the Lido, I arrived at the space dedicated to the Festival and started feeling a great  atmosphere. I had never seen something so beautiful taking place somewhere so magical.
Venice really looks like a city suspended in time.

After getting my accreditation my plan was to have a look around and orientate, find some magazines, somewhere to eat and then go see two films:
La belle vie by Jean Denizot and the very chatted Gerontophilia by the controversial Bruce LaBruce. To end my day I had planned to vip-watch George Clooney and Sandra Bullock on the red carpet, for the premiere of Alfonso Cuàron’s film Gravity.

However, my day turned out being a bit different, and better. I was in the Casino Palace to check my email, once outside I noticed a lot of paparazzi. I’ve heard a couple of Venetians saying they were waiting for Clooney and Bullock to arrive for the press-conference, so I decided to wait too, since I could be in the front row.

We waited for an hour, but then I suddenly heard everyone screaming "Georgeeeee" and starting flashing around, the motorboat finally arrived, and there they were. A perfectly dressed and handsome George Clooney (who, quoting Carrie Bradshaw, “is like a Chanel bag,  he never goes out of fashion.”) And a stunning and fit Sandra Bullock in a coloured cocktail dress, her wavy hair and her beautiful smile hitting a whole bunch of cameras.

Even though I love seeing movie stars, because it always feels like a dream, films are always the best part of festivals. The excitement before they start, the applause at their end,  the exchange of opinion, the topics of discussion, the different people you can meet, it’s just amazing.

At 2.30 pm I went to see La Belle Vie, most of the film’s cast and crew was there: director, editor, composer, director of photography, male protagonist, female protagonist, screenwriter, sitting just in front of me. 

After this film and discussion I had just the time to drink some water, and re-enter the room for Gerontophilia. Bruce LaBruce entered elegantly escorting his lead actress Katie Boland and followed by the protagonist Pier-Gabriel Lajoie, in addition to them I had the pleasure to see the screenwriter, the three producers, and the editor. 

Thought my day was over, but then I also managed to see Clooney and Bullock again, on the red carpet this time. 

I stayed there for a while, and then left to go to dinner. On my way to the waterbus station my dad texted me saying “Found a picture of you photographing George Clooney and Sandra Bullock.” He sent it to me, and here it is:

There I am, the girl on the left side of the picture, brown hair :)

I was so happy just because I didn’t have the chance to take a picture with them, but I think this is even more special, I’m in a crowd of paparazzi shot from the front part of the same picture I was taking. 

I got back to Giudecca at 9 pm, and had a relaxing dinner on my own!