Paolo Sorrentino's La Grazia opened the 82nd edition of the Venice Film Festival to loud applause and critical plaudits on Wednesday night.

    The film, in which Tony Servillo plays an Italian president who pardons a woman who killed her Alzheimer's-suffering husband, garnered a long standing ovation at the Lido as it rang up the curtain on the world's oldest cinema fest.
    "It's a film about love, doubt, and politics," The Great Beauty Oscar-winning director said.
    Also in the spotlight on the opening night was veteran German director Werner Herzog who received the Golden Lion for career achievement.
    The opening was also overshadowed by a controversy surrounding the request by a pro-Palestinian group of artists to exclude Israeli actor Gal Gadot and Scottish actor Gerard Butler for allegedly supporting Israel amid the "Gaza genocide".
    "We have clearly expressed our position on Gaza, but we are not censoring anyone," said Venice Film Festival Director resident Barbera.
    On Saturday, the Venice4Palestine group will demonstrate in the lagoon, with counter-cultural leftist 'social centers' also joining in.
    Meanwhile Sorrentino's latest film after Il Divo, Loro, Youth, The Consequences of Love, the Hand of God and Pathenope received favorable reception from the foreign press on Thursday, with high praise for Sorvillo in the role of the president-protagonist.
    "La Grazia is an elegant, refined, and meditative film that leaves room for enigma," writes Peter Bradshaw in The Guardian, awarding 4 stars.
    "Toni Servillo is extraordinary in Paolo Sorrentino's exquisite character study, which explores the complex introspection of a man of power," writes The Hollywood Reporter, in an article by David Rooney.
    "This film is a real breath of fresh air for cinema." The Wrap - William Bibbiani said: "Toni Servillo deserves an Oscar nomination for this performance. Sorrentino has made some very beautiful works in his career, and this is one of the best.'' Deadline - Peter Hammond 'said: 'The film shows Sorrentino abandoning his tendency towards extravagance, reaching a new artistic maturity.'' Screendaily - Jonathan Romney said: ''La Grazia is a wonderful film, which captures you and never lets go.'' The Times - Kevin Maher said: "La Grazia" is a film that slows down and suspends time, embodying much of Sorrentino's charm.'' The Playlist - Marshall Shaffer said: "La Grazia" is a parable of our autocratic age, which deeply respects the inner reserve of the character played by Servillo," Owen Gleiberman for Variety said "Paolo Sorrentino opens the Venice Film Festival with a presidential drama more understated than usual for him, and better for it," adding "Toni Servillo plays the president of Italy, who is staid to a fault (just like the movie), though with hidden depths."

photo: Sorrentino and Servillo flank Anna Ferzetti, who plays the president's daughter

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