Julia Roberts pushed back against the suggestion Luca Guadagnino’s After The Hunt is “politically incorrect”, saying she hopes the film will insp
Julia Roberts pushed back against the suggestion Luca Guadagnino’s After The Hunt is “politically incorrect”, saying she hopes the film will inspire people of differing viewpoints to have conversations.
Speaking at the press conference for the Venice title, Roberts was asked about the “complex dynamics” in the film which may “lead to controversy”, and whether it is a “politically incorrect film.”
“I love the softball questions early in the morning,” quipped Roberts. “I don’t know about controversy, but we are challenging people to have conversations and be excited by that or infuriated by that. It’s up to you if you drink martinis or lemonade after the movie.”
After The Hunt follows a college professor who finds herself at a personal and professional crossroads when a star pupil levels an accusation against one of her colleagues and a obscure secret from the professor’s own past threatens to come out.
It is screening out of competition on the Lido.
“It’s not so much that we’re making a statement – we’re just sharing these lives for this moment then want everyone to go away and talk to each other,” said Roberts. “If making this movie does anything, getting everybody to talk to each other is the most exciting thing we can accomplish.”
Roberts also disagreed with a reporter who suggested the film may undermine contemporary feminism and the #MeToo movement.
“I don’t think it’s just reviving an argument of women being pitted against each other or not supporting each other, but there are a lot of old arguments that get rejuvenated, that creates conversation,” said Roberts, who said “the best part of the question” was that the reporter said people came out of last night’s press screening talking about the film.
“That’s how we wanted it to feel,” said the actress. “You realise what you believe in strongly because we stir it all up for you. So, you’re welcome.”
“We’re not making statement, we are portraying these people in this moment in time,” said Roberts, who cited 1983 film Tender Mercies as a film where “a camera just landed in a place and happened to document what was going on – that’s how I feel about this movie.”
Venice regular
“It’s always interesting to see what we carry without knowing we carry within ourselves,” said Venice regular Guadagnino. “Even the lies of people tell the truth, as we know very well in many places in the world right now.”
Guadagnino has had films at the festival in three of the last four years, including Queer starring Daniel Craig last year. The only year he missed, he had been scheduled to open the festival with Challengers before the US actors and writers strikes.
Asked about his newfound prolific output, Guadagnino said, “I’m a very active person, I like doing a lot of things.”
“I feel very lucky. It moves me that people want to work with me.” He thanked Amazon MGM Studios, producers and US distributor of the film, “who have supported me with a great passion over the years and given me full freedom to research artistically.”
Guadagnino also discussed his role as producer when not directing, for which he has recent credits including Hailey Gates’ Atropia and Dea Kulumbegashvili’s Venice 2024 Competition entry April. “I produce because I love directors, directors are my passion,” said Guadagnino. “When I produce a film, it’s because I feel those directors have the film in their hands. My taks is to guide them – find the money and make sure they can express themselves.”
Garfield took on a question about the nature of truth, and whether it is always objective. “If we don’t make the unconscious conscious, things will happen in our lives and we will call it fate,” said Garfield, in what he noted was “a bastardisation” of the words of philosopher Carl Jung. “Human beings will behave animalistically when we’re put in a position where we feel like it’s life or death.”
Written by Nora Garrett, After The Hunt is produced by Jeb Brody, Brian Grazer, Allan Mandelbaum and Guadagnino.
Amazon MGM Studios will release the film in the US on October 10, with Sony Pictures Releasing International distributing the film internationally.
The film has its world premiere out of competition in Venice this evening.
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