ITALY: WOODY ALLEN'S "DECONSTRUCTING HARRY" LAUNCHES THE 54TH VENICE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Record ID: 688680

  • Title: ITALY: WOODY ALLEN'S "DECONSTRUCTING HARRY" LAUNCHES THE 54TH VENICE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
  • Date: 27th August 1997
  • Summary: VENICE, ITALY (AUGUST 27, 1997) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF EXCELSIOR HOTEL ON VENICE LIDO WHERE MANY STARS ARE STAYING VARIOUS PEOPLE ON BEACH OUTSIDE HOTEL READING FESTIVAL MAGAZINE VARIOUS EXTERIOR VIEWS OF FESTIVAL VENUE FESTIVAL DIRECTOR FELICE LAUDADIO SAYING, "U.S. FILMS CONCENTRATING ON SPECIAL EFFECTS WHICH COST 100 MILLION EACH NO LONGER HAVE A MARKET. THESE FILMS ARE COLD AND ABSOLUTELY NOT INTERESTING AND ARE DEVOTED TO CATASTROPHIES" (ENGLISH)
  • Embargoed: 11th September 1997 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: VENICE, ITALY/ FILM lOCATIONS
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: General,People
  • Reuters ID: LVA3M9E6DCMQKFQRKEZPEFVWV13T
  • Story Text: The Venice International Film Festival prepared for a gala opening on Wednesday (August 27) with a warning from its director that the U.S. movie industry's days could be numbered.
    "US Films concentrating on special effects which cost 100 million US dollars each no longer have a market. These films are cold and absolutely not interesting and are devoted to catastrophes," festival director Felice Laudadio told Reuters Television.
    The festival will run until September 6 with 18 films competing for the prestigious Golden Lion.
    Laudadio, taking the helm of one of Europe's most important film festivals for the first time, has raised some eyebrows in the glittering movie world with a line-up that shuns stars and big studio releases in favour of independents.
    U.S. director Woody Allen's latest psycho-comedy "Deconstructing Harry", which is being shown out of competition, officially kicks off the festival.
    "Deconstructing Harry', like "Husbands and Wives', is a combination of comedy and drama with a streak of bitterness.
    The film, starring Demi Moore, Kirstie Alley, Hazelle Goodman and Allen, tells of a nervy writer with a "wildly chaotic sex life" who is separated from his wife and involved in a bitter custody battle - with obvious parallels to Allen's real-life family drama with estranged partner Mia Farrow.
    Also showing on Thursday, will be a documentary on Woody Allen directed by Barbara Kopple, about his European tour with his jazz band. Part of the documentary shows Woody Allen travelling through Venice on a Gondola with Soon Yi.
    Allen, who is in New York working on a new movie, will not be in Venice but sent a goodwill video-message.
    8-month-pregnant Elizabeth Shue, who plays Fay in Allen's latest film, told a news conference before the showing, "Woody Allen is a very warm and very shy person. He takes his work seriously and is very inspiring and uncomplicated." Kirstie Alley, who plays Joan, a psychiatrist in "Deconstructing Harry", said of Allen "I think he's a genius and there is a simplicity to his films and a uniqueness. Even before I was an actress, I wanted to be in one of his films and now my wish has come true." Hazelle Goodman added, "I have an independent spirit and he encouraged that and let me go, I have learnt a lot from him and my confidence in myself has grown." Stars from "Deconstructing Harry" attended the showing on Wednesday evening and will be having a private low-key dinner after the showing.
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