Shia LaBeouf Resurfaces As a Saint in Abel Ferrara’s ‘Padre Pio’

Abel Ferrara’s “Padre Pio,” starring Shia LaBeouf as an Italian monk who gained rock-star standing among the many Catholic trustworthy, is among the many titles set to launch from the Venice Movie Pageant’s independently run Giornate Degli Autori.

The part, also referred to as Venice Days, will see LaBeouf again on the large display after the actor — finest identified for his roles within the Transformers and Indiana Jones franchises — took a break from performing in 2020 following allegations made by his ex-girlfriend Tahliah Debrett Barnett. The singer, generally known as FKA twigs, sued the actor for sexual battery, assault and emotional distress.

It isn’t but identified whether or not LaBeouf will probably be on the Lido to advertise “Padre Pio.”

In the latest film by Ferrara, who is thought for cult classics comparable to “Dangerous Lieutenant,” LaBeouf places in what Giornate chief Gaia Furrer known as an “extraordinary” efficiency because the “mystic and feverish” Capuchin monk born within the late nineteenth century in a small Southern Italian city. All through his life, Padre Pio generated each devotion and controversy and galvanized the trustworthy who imagine he bore the stigmata, the injuries of Christ’s crucifixion.

Padre Pio died in 1968 on the age of 81, was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1999, after which canonized in 2002.

Different standout titles within the Venice part, which is modeled on Cannes’ Administrators’ Fortnight, comprise Steve Buscemi’s “The Listener” — which is the closing movie — that includes “Thor” star Tessa Thompson as a assist name line volunteer who will get on the telephone each evening throughout America, fielding calls from individuals who really feel lonely and hopeless.

The Venice Days opener is Lebanese director Wissam Charaf’s drama “Soiled, Tough, Harmful” concerning the struggles of two lovers in Beirut. One is an Ethiopian migrant home employee, whereas the opposite is a Syrian refugee.

Different competitors titles comprise first-time British director Georgia Oakley’s “Blue Jean,” set throughout Margaret Thatcher’s tenure because the British prime minister. It stars “The Alienist’s” Rosy McEwen as a homosexual bodily training instructor compelled to stay a double life when Thatcher’s authorities passes a brand new regulation that stigmatizes the LGBTQ+ group.

Elsewhere, Chinese language director Huang Ji and her husband Otsuka Ryuji are launching “Stonewalling,” which Furrer stated is the ultimate movie in a feminist trilogy that began with “Egg and Stone” from 2012, which received the highest prize in Rotterdam.

“March on Rome,” a high-profile doc by British director and movie historian Mark Cousins (“The Story of Movie: A New Era”), exploring the roots of fascism by analyzing movies, pictures and different paperwork present in Italian archives, is premiering out of competitors. 

Shorts by Carla Simón, whose sophomore function “Alcarrás received this yr’s Berlin Golden Bear, and U.S. director Janicza Bravo who broke out at Sundance in 2020 along with her second movie “Zola,” will unspool as a part of the Prada-commissioned Miu Miu Girls’s Tales, a collection of quick movies directed by girls.

A jury of 27 younger movie buffs from 27 EU international locations will resolve the Venice Days prizes, beneath the steering this yr of cutting-edge French director and screenwriter Celine Sciamma (“Portrait of a Girl on Fireplace”).

The 18th version of Venice Days will run concurrently with the Venice Movie Pageant from Aug. 31 Sept. 10.

GIORNATE DEGLI AUTORI (VENICE DAYS) LINEUP

IN COMPETITION

“Bentu,” Salvatore Mereu (Italy)

“Strange Failures,” Cristina Grosan (Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia)

“Blue Jean,” Georgia Oakley (U.Okay.)

“Soiled, Tough, Harmful,” Wissam Charaf (France, Italy, Lebanon) — Opening Movie

“The Final Queen,” Adila Bendimerad, Damien Ounouri (Algeria, France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Taiwan)

“The Damned Don’t Cry,” (Working Title), Fyzal Boulifa (France, Belgium, Morocco)

“Wolf And Canine,” Cláudia Varejão (Portugal, France)

“Padre Pio,” Abel Ferrara (Italy, Germany. U.Okay.)

“Stonewalling,” Huang Ji, Otsuka Ryuji (Japan)

“The Maiden,” Graham Foy (Canada, U.S.)

OUT OF COMPETITION –– SPECIAL EVENTS

“Olimpia’s Approach,” Corrado Ceron (Italy)

“Alone,” Jafar Najafi (Iran)

“We’re Right here to Strive,” Greta De Lazzaris, Jacopo Quadri (Italy)

“Casa Susanna,” Sebastien Lifshitz (Italy)

“March on Rome,” Mark Cousins (Italy)

“The Listener,” Steve Buscemi (U.S.) — Closing Movie

NOTTI VENEZIANE (Venetian Nights)

“Land of Upright Folks,” Christian Carmosino Mereu (Italy)

“Kristos, The Final Baby,” Giulia Amati (Italy)

“The Crown Shyness,” Valentina Bertani (Italy)

“Las Leonas,” Isabel Achával, Chiara Biondi (Italy)

“Le Favolose,” Roberta Torre (Italy)

“Pablo From Neanderthal,” Antonello Matarazzo (Italy)

“Se Destiny I Bravi,” Stefano Collizzoli, Daniele Gaglianone (Italy)

“The Bone Breakers,” Vincenzo Pirrotta (Italy)

“An Invisible Enemy,” Riccardo Campagna, Federico Savonitto (Italy)

WOMEN’S TALES PROJECT (shorts), in collaboration with Prada’s Miu Miu Label

“Carta a Mi Madre Para Mi Hijo,” Carla Simon (Italy)

“Home Comes With a Chook,” Janicza Bravo (Italy)