Pedro Almodovar, Nicole Kidman and Vincent Lindon rewarded at the Venice Film Festival – rts.ch

The Venice Film Festival on Saturday awarded its Golden Lion to Spaniard Pedro Almodovar, giving him, at the age of 74, one of the most prestigious prizes of his immense career for his first American film.

“This is my first film in English, but the spirit is Spanish,” commented the former enfant terrible of the Movida when receiving his award. A film with a twilight tone, “The Room Next Door” tells the story of Ingrid, a novelist anxious about the end of life, and Martha, her childhood friend, a former war reporter, who, suffering from cancer, decides to end her life.

Nicole Kidman awarded, but absent

Australian-American star Nicole Kidman won the best actress award at the 81st Venice Film Festival on Saturday, upending her glamorous image in “Babygirl,” a new-age erotic thriller.

In her absence, a message from the 57-year-old actress was read on stage by the film’s Dutch director, Halina Reijn: “I learned shortly after my arrival in Venice of the death of my mother Janelle Kidman. I am in shock and I must be with my family. This award is for her.”

“She shaped me, she guided me, and she made me. I am beyond grateful to have the opportunity to speak her name to you all through Halina,” she continued. “The collision of life and art is heartbreaking, my heart is broken.”

Frenchman Vincent Lindon best actor

Frenchman Vincent Lindon won the award for best actor for his role in “Playing with Fire”.

He plays a father confronted with the drift of one of his sons towards the violent extreme right. “I am extremely moved (…) Thank you to the entire jury!” declared the 65-year-old actor, an essential face of the 7th art of France. “I would like to thank Muriel and Delphine Coulin”, the directors, he added.

“The love of a father for his sons, the love of sons for their father, how we live with this idea that we have brought a child into the world who, at one point, breaks free (…) this is the subject that most fascinated me” in this feature film, explained the French actor on the Lido.

“Obviously, it’s interesting to make a film where there is a social framework, a societal subject that is taking on incredible importance today. And if we can participate in one way or another in the awakening or, in any case, the questioning of people, it’s very interesting for an actor.”

jfe with agencies