More prophecies by Massimo Benvegnù. These come from his live blogging during the 69th Venice Film Festival.
4th September 2012.
During the 20 years of my presence at the Venice Film Festival, I guessed the Golden Lion winner only twice.
The first time it happened with Zhang Yimou’s Not One Less, in 1999. A moment before the lights went out in Sala Perla, I said to my friend Alessandra who sat next to me: “Now, let’s watch the Golden Lion”. I was not a fan of Zhang Yimou’s, but there was a sort of excitement in the air, something intangible. The film we saw was great, and the award came as predicted.
The second time was a few years ago, when I read the synopsis to Lebanon. Israel + a film set entirely inside a tank = an easy festival winner. I didn’t even see it, and during the festival I kept calling it “the winner”. And it won, of course.
My third time, I think and hope, will be with Kim Ki-Duk, his masterpiece, his return to form after the marvellous 3-Iron a few years ago (a surprise film which won the Silver Lion).