Lasse Hallström’s out of competition film Casanova is the story of Casanova, a man searching for way out of being condemned to death for his amorous adventures. He needs a wife or maybe a new perspective. Soon he meets Francesca (Sienna Miller),a young Venetian who writes under the name of Bruno Guardia. Jeremy Irons plays the inquisitor Pucci who searches for both Guardia and Casanova (Heath Ledger). Lisa Olin, Hallström’s real life wife plays Francesca’s mother, and Oliver Platt, a lard merchant from Genoa named Paprizzio. The film plays with the Vatican dictates on morality which drew laughter from the Italian crowd. As a twist, the film addresses the battle of the sexes in modern form where nothing short of equality is the goal. The film is clearly destined for awards in art direction, director, costume and script.

In Matthew Barney’s Drawing Restraint, (Horizons section)both he and Björk embark on a Japanese vessel that is the only factory ship in the world that processes the meat of the whale. In the elaborate and lengthly ritual the two passengers are partially transformed into whales - both have blow holes and eventually sprout fins. The contemplative piece is magificently photographed by Peter Strietman, and at the public screening yesterday at Sala Grande met with acclaim. Bjork made a magnificent soundtrack as co-creator with Barney's exquisite and artful direction.

The surprise film of the international competition yesteday was Takeshi Kitano’s Takeshi’s , a film that the Japanese director revealed may be his last in a cycle of films. The story is basically an assemblage piece about auditioning for acting roles. Its also about Kitano, as hit man and yakusa playing a blonde convenience story nerd. The rather intricated story involves tap dancing, shooting and a multi arch of characters weaving in and out of roles often projected in flashback. Kitano said that after this film he may create a new generation of films with better ways of describing women. He clearly has made the yakusa character into a fine art.

Moira Sullivan