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Five years ago, French writer-director Claude Lelouch returned, for the second time, to the site of his greatest career success with “The Best Years of a Life,” an autumnal sequel to his trend-setting 1966 romance “A Man and a Woman” that felt elegiac in multiple senses — not least since it turned out to be the final onscreen appearance for both its stars, Jean-Louis Trintignant and Anouk Aimée. Anyone who assumed it might be Lelouch’s sign-off, however, was quite mistaken. He’s made three features since, the latest of which, “Finally,” seems fashioned from its title down as a sort of career summation from the 86-year-old filmmaker, but not portentously so. A peculiar, weightless confection that bounces antically between narratives, perspectives, periods and varying grips on reality, it treats even grave mortal matters with near-cartoonish buoyancy.

Premiering out of competition at the Venice Film Festival, accompanying a career-achievement award presentation to Lelouch,...

French director Claude Lelouch first broke out internationally with 1966 romance A Man and a Woman, starring Anouk Aimee and Jean-Louis Trintignant as a widow and widower whose fledgling love story is held back by past personal tragedies.

Nearly 60 years later, the soundtrack by late composer Francis Lai – and in particular its title track, which is often referred to as ‘Chabadabada’ for its catchy refrain – remains as famous, if not more famous, than the Oscar and Cannes Palme d’Or-winning feature

That movie would mark the start of a 52-year, 35-picture collaboration between Lelouch and Lai, which was at the heart of a music-themed masterclass by Lelouch at the Venice Film Festival on Saturday.

The director is at the festival to receive the Cartier Glory To The Filmmaker Award as well as for the premiere of new work Finalement, starring an ensemble cast led by Kad Merad and also featuring Elsa Zylberstain,...

The Venice Film Festival is just over two weeks away, bringing starry talent back to the Lido in water taxis after a year off for many due to the strikes in 2023. The Biennale has unveiled its Conversations and Masterclasses lineup, with a richer program and in a new and larger (250 seats) location at the Match Point Arena, set up at the Tennis Club Venezia on the Lido.

Four Masterclasses will be held by directors and performers, including the actress Sigourney Weaver (recipient of the Golden Lion for Career) on Thursday, August, 29; filmmaker Peter Weir (Golden Lion for Career) on Sunday, September 1, and his 2003 film “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World” also screens during the festival; actor/filmmaker Ethan Hawke on Monday, September 2; and Pupi Avati, director of closing night film “L’orto Americano” on Friday, September 6. All can be followed via live stream at labiennale.org.

Organized by Cartier,...

Venice Film Festival attendees will be treated to masterclasses from Ethan Hawke, Sigourney Weaver, Peter Weir and more.

As previously announced, both Weaver and Weir are receiving Golden Lion for Career Achievement awards at this year’s festival. Oscar-nominated actor Weaver is best known for her roles in the “Alien” and “Avatar” franchises, while retired director Weir has collected various accolades for his films like “Dead Poets Society,” “The Truman Show” and “Master and Commander.”

Hawke had his breakthrough performance in “Dead Poets Society,” and went on to star in Richard Linklater’s “Before” trilogy and “Boyhood” as well as Paul Schrader’s “First Reformed.” Also set to give a masterclass is director Pupi Avati, who helmed Venice’s closing film “L’orto Americano” and is also known for his horror films “The House With Laughing Windows” and “Zeder.”

Three conversations will also take place, organized by festival sponsor Cartier. These will comprise composer Nicola Piovani,...

French director Claude Lelouch will be celebrated with the Cartier Glory To The Filmmaker Award at the upcoming 81st Venice Film Festival, running from August 28 to September 7.

He follows in the footsteps of Wes Anderson who was last year’s recipient of the award, dedicated to a personality who has made a particularly original contribution to the contemporary film industry.

The award ceremony will take place on September 2 ahead of the world premiere in an Out of Competition screening of Lelouch’s new work Finalement, starring an ensemble cast featuring Kad Merad, Elsa Zylberstain, Michel Boujenah, Sandrine Bonnaire, Barbara Pravi and Françoise Gillard.

One of France’s best loved directors, Lelouch first broke out internationally with his 1966 Oscar and Cannes Palme d’Or-winning romance A Man and a Woman, starring Anouk Aimee and Jean-Louis Trintignant as a widow and widower whose fledgling love story is held back by past personal tragedies.

French director Claude Lelouch (A Man and a Woman, Happy New Year, The Beautiful Story) will be honored at this year’s Venice Film Festival with the Cartier Glory to the Filmmaker Award, a prize dedicated to a “personality who has made a particularly original contribution to the contemporary film industry.”

Lelouch will receive the prize Monday, Sept. 2, at Venice’s Sala Grande ahead of the out-of-competition screening of his latest feature, Finalement, a musical fantasy starring Kad Merad (Welcome to the Sticks, The Chorus). Elsa Zylberstain, Michel Boujenah, Sandrine Bonnaire, Barbara Pravi and Françoise Gillard co-star. The film was produced by Les Films 13 in co-production with France 2 Cinéma and Laurent Dassault Rond-Point. Metropolitan Filmexport is handling international sales.

“Claude Lelouch is one of the top directors of French cinema, an excellent interpreter of its ‘quality,’ albeit alien to its main currents,” said Venice artistic director Alberto Barbera.

Claude Lelouch, the Oscar-winning director of “A Man and a Woman,” is getting ready to direct “Finalement…,” his next film which he says will be a sort of sequel to his BAFTA-nominated film “Happy New Year” and “L’aventure, l’aventure.” The lighthearted movie will reteam Lelouch with Metropolitan FilmExport which is co-producing with Lelouch’s banner Les Films 13, and will distribute in France.

Scored by popular French singer Ibrahim Maalouf, “Finalement…” will boast a large ensemble cast of French stars, including Kad Merad (“Baron Noir”), Elsa Zylberstein (“Simone”), Sandrine Bonnaire, Raphael Mezrahi, Michel Boujenah and Barbara Pravi.

Merad will play a powerful lawyer who sees his life take an unexpected turn after a health issue removes his ability to lie and forces him to speak without any filter. Merad’s character embarks on a road trip across France, from Paris to the Normandie, to the Mont St Michel, Avignon...

Italy’s Måneskin emerged as the winner of Eurovision this year with their garage rock anthem, “Zitti e buoni.” The performance garnered 524 points. France’s Barbara Pravi came in second with 499 points for the song, “Voila,” and Switzerland’s “Tout l’Univers,” performed by Gjon’s Tears, got third with 432 points. This is the country’s first time […]

The post Italy’s Måneskin Wins Eurovision 2021 With “Zitti e Buoni” appeared first on uInterview.

The European Broadcasting Union, organizers of the Eurovision song competition, said Sunday it’s looking into allegations that a member of event winners Maneskin was seen doing drugs on video.

“We are aware of the speculation surrounding the video clip of the Italian winners of the Eurovision Song Contest in the Green Room last night,” said the organizers.

The Ebu added that the metal band has “strongly refuted” the allegations of drug use, and that lead singer Damiano David, the prime suspect, will take a voluntary drug test after arriving home. A test was requested from him on Saturday night “but could not be immediately organized by the Ebu,” said organizers.

What would happen in the event of a positive test is unclear.

Social media footage depicts the band drinking and celebrating at their table during the event. Damiano David’s head briefly bent over the table, leading to speculation he was ingesting drugs.

Italian metal band Måneskin, winners of the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest, will take a drug test after their off-stage antics went viral during the grand final.

Footage shared widely on social media depicts the band drinking and celebrating at their table during the event, with lead singer Damiano David’s head briefly bent over the table. It’s been suggested that the singer may have been taking drugs, although David shut down any speculation at a press conference late on Saturday, following the group’s victory.

“[Guitarist Thomas Raggi] broke a glass…I don’t use drugs. Please guys, do not say that. Don’t say that, really. No cocaine, please, do not say that,” the flamboyant frontman told reporters.

On Sunday, the European Broadcasting Union, organizers of Eurovision, released a statement addressing the incident. “We are aware of the speculation surrounding the video clip of the Italian winners of the Eurovision...