--INTERNATIONAL CORNER – Cowboys Clinch Golden Lion Wrap-Up of the 2005 Venice Film Festival

 

By Kelisha Osborne

Oscar winning filmmaker Ang Lee took top honors at the 62nd Annual Venice Film Festival -- held August 31-September 10, 2005 -- for his provocative, commanding film Brokeback Mountain. Lee's low budget indie toped 19 other deserving adversaries to seize the coveted Golden Lion. Set in 1960's Wyoming, Lee describes his film as "A story of love against adversity". Based upon a story of the same title by E. Annie Proulx, the quixotic gay love story stars Heath Ledger as hired ranch hand, Ennis Del Mar, and Jake Gyllenhaal as the rodeo cowboy, Jack Twist. Lee, who has previously received awards including Director's Guild of America crown, Hong Kong Film Awards, as well as and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts states, "I decided to make a small movie that really moved me". Lee's prior efforts have included Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Hulk, Sense and Sensibility, The Ice Storm, The Hire; Chosen and Eat, Drink, Man, Woman. Brokeback Mountain also stars, Michelle Williams, Linda Cardellini, Anne Hathaway, Kate Mara, Anna Faris and Randy Quaid, and is set for release in January of 2006.

Critically acclaimed French film writer and director Philippe Garrel received The Silver Lion award for Les Amants Réguliers (The Regular Lovers), which also won in the Outstanding Technical Contribution category. The film portrays a love tale set amidst the aftermath of the 1968 Paris riots. Garrel's past noteworthy films have included Le Coeur Fantôme, J'entends plus la Guitare, and the beautifully mystifying Le Vent de la Nuit.

Good Night, and Good Luck, the highly anticipated drama written by George Clooney and Grant Heslov received the Osella award for Best Screenplay. The film accounts the real-life conflict between broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow and Senator Joseph McCarthy and the House Un American Activities. David Strathairn received the Coppa Volpi for Best Actor portraying Murrow in addition, Strathairn proclaimed the movie was a reminder of the responsibility of journalists, "All of you here, and all of those who will see this movie, all of those who are out there trying to bring truth to all of us so that we can make better decisions about our lives". Clooney stars as the ethical CBS television producer, Fred Friendly. Good Night also stars Patricia Clarkson, Jeff Daniels, Ray Wise, Frank Langella, Grant Heslov and Robert Downey Jr.

The Jury Special Prize went to Abel Ferrara's film Mary, in which Juliette Binoche plays an actress obsessed with Mary Magdalene after she is left alone in Jerusalem. Mary also stars Mathew Modine, Forest Whitaker, Mario Opinato, Marco Leonardi, Marion Cotillard and Heather Graham.

Additional winners at this year's festival include Giovanna Mezzogiorno receiving the Coppa Volpi for Best Actress for her renderings in La Bestia Nel Cuore (The Beast in the Heart). The Horizons Prize went to documentary filmmaker Lech Kowalski for East Of Paradise. The Osella for an Outstanding Technical Contribution went to William Lubtchansky for photography in Les Amants Réguliers (The Regular Lovers), and Parisian born Isabelle Huppert received the Special Lion Award for her work as a whole.

Founded in 1895, the prestigious Venice Biennale continues to set exceptional international trends in film, art and architectural events as well as, contemporary music, dance and theatre exhibitions. For further information on the 62nd Annual Venice film Festival and awards, visit www.labiennale.org.