At Venice, Pallaoro Presents Bertolucci Script, While Director May el-Toukhy Brings ‘Woman Unknown’

Andrea Pallaoro says adapting Bernardo Bertolucci’s screenplay carried “a great responsibility,” even though the late director’s themes are close to his own view of individuals, couples and the nuances of love.

His film, ‘The Echo Chamber,’ became the second Italian entry in this year’s Venice competition. It follows Luca, a troubled music producer played by Luca Marinelli, who begins a relationship with Anne, a young physiotherapist played by Alicia Vikander. Anne initially becomes more deeply involved in the relationship. Susan Sarandon plays Ava, a singing star who serves as Luca’s confidante and muse.

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A great responsibility, even though his themes are very close to my vision of the individual, the couple and the nuances of love.

At a press conference, Sarandon spoke about her support for the Palestinian cause and the boycott she says she has faced for years. “There are still films that I am not offered, with agencies telling directors not to give me a role,” she said.

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There are still films that I am not offered, with agencies telling directors not to give me a role.

Another focus at the festival was May el-Toukhy, the Danish director of Egyptian origin, whose competition film ‘Woman Unknown’ centers on Marie, a domestic worker and nanny in postwar Denmark. Marie is preparing to marry Christian, the wealthy widower who employs her, but a secret threatens to destroy everything. She makes increasingly final choices to keep the truth hidden.

El-Toukhy said gender inequality in filmmaking remained a structural problem she had encountered throughout her career. She said the film began with a Danish newspaper photograph of a woman sitting on a bench in torn clothes, with a swastika painted on her back. The image prompted research into photographs intended to warn women to use their bodies “properly.” Lee Chang-dong’s ‘Possible Love,’ South Korea’s official Oscar submission for best international feature, also joined the competition.

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I think it is a structural problem that I, among others, have encountered throughout my career. I have often had difficulty making my films.