Jim Jarmusch’s “Father Mother Sister Brother” unexpectedly won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. The film, a three-part meditation on parent-child relationships, features an ensemble cast and is divided into segments set in New Jersey, Dublin, and Paris.
It depicts gentle domestic encounters that highlight generational awkwardness through small gestures and silences. While not a critical favorite, Jarmusch expressed appreciation for the honor. “The Voice of Hind Rajab” by Kaouther Ben Hania received the Silver Lion. Other awards included Toni Servillo for best actor in “La Grazia” and Xin Zhilei for best actress in “The Sun Rises On Us All.” The Venice festival is a key event in the awards season, often foreshadowing Oscar contenders.
Gaza invasion
The 2025 Venice Film Festival saw a focus on current events, notably the Israeli invasion of Gaza, influencing the impactful films presented. Director Jim Jarmusch expressed unease over a primary distributor’s financial connections to the Israeli military.
The film “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” utilizing genuine audio of a young girl’s desperate calls amid Israeli gunfire, received a record 24-minute standing ovation. Director Ben Hania stated the film’s purpose is to preserve the girl’s voice and resonate globally until accountability and justice are achieved. Benny Safdie won Best Director for “The Smashing Machine,” starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as mixed martial arts pioneer Mark Kerr.
The Special Jury Award was presented to Gianfranco Rosi for his documentary “Below the Clouds,” documenting life in Naples. Notable films that did not secure awards included Netflix productions “A House of Dynamite” by Kathryn Bigelow, Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein,” and Noah Baumbach’s “Jay Kelly.” Park Chan-wook’s “No Other Choice” and Yorgos Lanthimos’s “Bugonia” also failed to win awards despite critical acclaim.