Venice hails cinema's comeback king Mickey Rourke

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-09-09 09:55

WIN MAY LURE HOLLYWOOD

Italian newspapers said the choice of "The Wrestler" for Golden Lion may help Venice lure U.S. movies, and with them top stars, to the Lido waterfront in the future as it strives to compete with rival festivals like Toronto. "

A verdict that rewards Hollywood, albeit in its independent incarnation, could be very useful ... in attracting other films of this genre to the Lido," wrote veteran film writer Paolo Mereghetti in Corriere della Sera.

There was controversy at Saturday's closing ceremony when jury president Wim Wenders criticised rules which prevent the Golden Lion winner also picking up best acting prizes -- suggesting Rourke should have won that too. Italian newspapers said the comments detracted from the best actor award to home grown Silvio Orlando for his acclaimed portrayal of an overprotective father in "Il Papa di Giovanna" (Giovanna's Father).

The Silver Lion for best director was won by Russia's Alexei German Jr. for "Paper Soldier", set on the windswept steppes of Kazakhstan and centring on the 1960s Soviet space programme.

The best actress prize went to France's Dominique Blanc in "L'Autre" (The Other One), a haunting tale of a woman who becomes dangerously obsessed with a young ex-boyfriend. "Teza", by Ethiopian director Haile Gerima, picked up two prizes -- the special jury award and best screenplay.

The story chronicles the life of an Ethiopian intellectual who flees his country during the Marxist "red terror" in the 1980s, only to be attacked in Germany by racist youths. Jennifer Lawrence of the United States was named best emerging actress for her role in "The Burning Plain", in which she appeared alongside Kim Basinger and Charlize Theron.

As well as "The Wrestler", "The Hurt Locker" by U.S. director Kathryn Bigelow impressed critics with its portrayal of the perils faced by a bomb disposal unit in Iraq, while actress Anne Hathaway generated awards buzz in "Rachel Getting Married".

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