Roman Polanski’s latest film, “The Palace,” made its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, but the response was not as enthusiastic as the director may have hoped. Despite the presence of producer Luca Barbareschi and key cast members, including Fanny Ardant, Oliver Masucci, Joaquim de Almeida, and Fortunato Cerlino, the audience’s reaction was polite, with occasional bursts of laughter. The film only received three minutes of applause at the end, a tepid response for such an anticipated premiere.
Earlier in the evening, there was a significant honor bestowed upon set designer Tonino Zera. He received the prestigious Campari Passion for Film prize from artistic director Alberto Barbera. This accolade recognized Zera’s exceptional work on “The Palace.”
Directed by Roman Polanski, “The Palace” is set during New Year’s Eve in 1999 and centers around a dinner party held at Switzerland’s Gstaad Palace hotel that takes an unexpected turn. The star-studded cast features Oliver Masucci, Fanny Ardant, John Cleese, and Bronwyn James. However, despite the impressive cast and renowned director, critic Owen Gleiberman described the film as a “garish debacle of an ensemble comedy” and noted the lack of audience reaction during the screening.
The controversy surrounding Polanski himself added another layer of complexity to the film’s premiere. Polanski has a controversial history due to sexual assault allegations that have followed him throughout his career. In 1977, he was arrested for allegedly assaulting a 13-year-old girl and later settled a lawsuit. In 2009, he faced another arrest but was not extradited. These allegations have continued to cast a shadow over his work.
The inclusion of “The Palace” in the festival lineup sparked a great deal of debate and criticism, with artistic director Alberto Barbera defending the decision. Barbera argued that Polanski has taken responsibility for his actions and has been forgiven by the victim. He believes that continuing to focus on Polanski distracts from other important issues.
Producer Luca Barbareschi also expressed his support for Polanski during the film’s press conference. He questioned why streaming platforms continue to feature Polanski’s older movies while refusing to produce his new film. Barbareschi’s comments highlighted the dichotomy between Polanski’s controversial past and the ongoing interest in his work.
For those keen to see “The Palace,” it will premiere in Italian theaters on September 28. Despite the mixed response at the Venice Film Festival, audiences will have the opportunity to form their own opinions about Polanski’s latest cinematic offering.
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