Venice Film Festival: Italian Cinema Shines with 'La città dei vivi', Moretti and Pattinson Disappoint

At the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, Italian cinema received praise for 'La città dei vivi', directed by Marco Gabbriellini, while films starring Robert Pattinson and directed by Nanni Moretti drew criticism. The festival, deemed the best in seven or eight years by critic Ago, opened with a mix of heat and technical issues at the Casino bar, where festival director Alberto Barbera was complimented. 'La città dei vivi', based on Nicola Lagioia's Strega Prize-winning novel, focuses on the 2016 murder of 23-year-old Luca Varani in Rome, shifting attention to the victim and his family rather than the killers. Emanuele Maria Di Stefano's performance as Varani was singled out for praise. In contrast, Lance Oppenheim's 'Primetime', starring Robert Pattinson as a host of a controversial TV show that entrapped alleged pedophiles, was deemed a missed opportunity due to its visual style overshadowing narrative. Nanni Moretti's 'Succederà questa notte' was also criticized for its tone and execution, despite a bold message about pursuing happiness, with Louis Garrel's performance noted as the film's strongest element.