News — Sofia Coppolla’s ‘Somewhere’ Wins the Golden Lion at Venice

[Posted by: Danny Moltrasi]

Sofia Coppola’s Somewhere, has won the Golden Lion for best film at the Venice Film Festival. The film starring Stephen Dorff and Elle Fanning tells the story of a Hollywood bad-boy who gets a visit from his 11-year-old daughter. The film beat out films by Darren Aronofksy-Black Swan, Vincent Gallo-Promises on the Water, as well as entries from Polish director Jerzy Skolimowski-Essential Killing, and the Japanese film by Tran Anh Hung with Norwegian Wood. The Silver Lion went to The Last Circus, by Alex da la Inglesia, who also picked up best director. The jury, headed by Quentin Tarantino gave the best actress award to Arine Labed in Attenberg, as well as best actor to Vincent Gallo in Essential Killing.

Sofia Coppola, whose previous film, Marie Antoinette, was booed off at Cannes in 2006, thanked her dad, Francis Ford Coppola, in her acceptance speech. Quentin Tarantino said that Somewhere “enchanted us from its first screening,” as it was unanimously chosen for the top award. Somewhere had been expected to compete for the main award from the outset, however it was expected that if there was to be an American winner, it was more likely to come from Aronofsky and his thriller, Black Swan.

Francis Ford Coppola Films — Tetro

[Reviewed by: Danny Maltrosi]

“I love you, brother.”

Tetro is Francis Ford Coppola’s first movie since The Conversation that he has written himself. It tells a story of a young eighteen year old who has come to visit his brother after he has been absent for a long time. Set in Buenos Aries, the film is mostly in a striking black and white, which manages to perfectly set the tone for the film. It is a beautifully shot film, that could have easily could have come from Coppola while he was in his pomp in the 70s, it is that good. It deals with issues close to Coppola, and something he perfected in The Godfather films, the tangled web of families. Tetro should not be missed.