Anger as Leitmotif at 74th Venice Film Festival

The 74th Venice International Film Festival features anger as a recurring theme across multiple films in and out of competition. Ryuichi Sakamoto returns as an anti-nuclear activist in the documentary 'Coda'. Ai Weiwei's 'Human Flow' depicts refugee camp conditions. Martin McDonagh's 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri' stars Frances McDormand and is a candidate for the Golden Lion. Paul Schrader's 'First Reformed' features Ethan Hawke as a pastor grappling with environmentalist rage. Ziad Doueiri's 'The Insult' explores frustration in Lebanon amid Palestinian refugees. Samuel Maoz's 'Foxtrot' addresses Israeli military trauma. Savi Gabizon's 'Longing' (in Orizzonti) deals with remorse. Susanna Nicchiarelli's 'Nico, 1988' portrays the structural anger of the Velvet Underground singer. The festival also highlights the impact of blockbusters, Netflix, and virtual reality, with director Alberto Barbera embracing technological change. Italian minister Dario Franceschini allocated €30 million to revive old cinemas.