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people & Arts Thursday 31 augusT 2017
Matt Damon goes mini in Venice opener “Downsizing”

By JILL LAWLESS cleaner.
Associated Press Actress Hong Chau
VENICE, Italy (AP) — (“Treme,” ‘’Inherent Vice”)
“Downsizing” has gener- is already being talked of
ated jumbo-sized buzz at as a potential awards nom-
the Venice Film Festival — inee for her performance
not least as viewers debate as the spirited, complex
how to describe it. character.
Is it a science fiction film, a “This is a character that
romantic comedy, a po- is normally in the back-
litical parable, an apoca- ground, that is low-status
lyptic thriller? Alexander character in the culture,
Payne’s movie mixes all and not one that you typi-
those elements in its story cally see in the forefront of
of a man, played by Matt a story,” she said.
Damon, who tries to solve “Downsizing” is the latest
his problems by shrinking ordinary-Joe role for Da-
himself. mon, who exudes a likable
Damon and co-stars Kris- everyman-under-duress
ten Wiig and Hong Chau quality whether he’s ac-
joined Payne on the red tion hero Jason Bourne or a
carpet for the film’s Venice stranded astronaut in “The
premiere Wednesday — Martian.”
the first of 11 days of galas Damon said he thinks mov-
that will bring stars includ- Actor Matt Damon and his wife Luciana Barroso arrive on the red carpet of the premiere of the ies “are the greatest tool for
ing George Clooney and film “Downsizing” which opens the 74th edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Wednesday, empathy that we have.”
Jennifer Lawrence to the Aug. 30, 2017. “What I love about this —
canal-crossed Italian city. Associated Press what I love about a lot of
The Venice opening-night so different to the films he’s ters) tall. That means they the way to an underground these stories that I get to
slot has become cov- best known for — funny-sad use a tiny fraction of the bunker in a Norwegian help tell — is it shows a re-
eted by filmmakers hoping stories of middle aged or resources they once did fjord. latable character whose
to make a splash come Midwestern strugglers such — and need to pay less, Many will find the journey life is different from our own
awards season. Several as “About Schmidt,” ‘’Side- allowing people of mod- unexpected, but review- but who we find common
recent Venice openers, in- ways” and “Nebraska.” est means to grow instantly ers in Venice were mostly cause with,” he said. “This
cluding “Gravity” and “La “It has the same sense of rich by becoming small. happy to be swept along is a beautiful and optimis-
La Land,” have gone on humor and basically the The movie has fun imagin- for the ride. The Guardian tic movie. A journalist said
to win multiple Academy same tone,” Payne told ing what the miniaturized called the film a “spry, nu- to me, which I thought was
Awards. reporters in Venice on world would be like, as Da- anced, winningly digres- really great: ‘This is Alexan-
“Downsizing” has ingredi- Wednesday. mon goes to live in a luxury sive movie,” while the Hol- der’s most optimistic movie
ents that could help it strike The movie applies Payne’s micro-city, a sort of retire- lywood Reporter said it was and it has the apocalypse
a similar chord with audi- wry eye for human foibles ment community for the “captivating, funny” and in it.’”
ences and awards voters: to a plot that explores the tiny. “deeply humane.” The film has been in the
a likable, bankable star in power and limits of science Then it takes a serious turn to Ultimately, the film rests on works for a decade, but
Damon; a strong support- and the threat of environ- ask whether science could Payne’s knack for depict- in an AP interview, Da-
ing cast that includes Wiig mental catastrophe. be humanity’s salvation, or ing human relationships. mon said its environmental
and Christophe Waltz; and The script by Payne and whether stubbornly fallible Damon’s Paul becomes theme felt “torn from the
an imaginative story laced Jim Taylor opens with a human nature is likely to be friends with a louche Euro- headlines.”
with compassion and hu- Norwegian scientist making our species’ undoing. pean neighbor, played by “Though the (U.S.) adminis-
mor. a breakthrough he thinks Along the way, a movie Waltz, and develops feel- tration wouldn’t say that,”
Payne says despite its sci-fi will save humanity: a tech- that started in the familiar ings for Ngoc Lan, a former he added. “They’re not
premise and international nique that can shrink peo- Payne territory of Omaha, Vietnamese political pris- acknowledging climate
canvas, “Downsizing” is not ple to 5 inches (12 centime- Nebraska, takes viewers all oner working as a house change as a reality.”q

Renowned Hungarian film director Karoly Makk dies at 91

By PABLO GOROND, anti-Soviet uprising and life Makk was born on Dec. 22,
Associated Press under tyranny, won the Jury 1925, in the town of Beretty-
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Prize at the Cannes Film Fes- oujfalu in eastern Hungary,
Karoly Makk, one of Hun- tival in 1971. Between 1955 where his parents owned
gary’s greatest film direc- and 1987, six of his films, in- a cinema, which gave
tors whose “Cats’ Play” was cluding “Liliomfi,” ‘’Another Makk the chance to watch
nominated for an Oscar in Way” and “The Last Manu- many movies. His parents,
1975, has died. He was 91. script,” were nominated for who like many Hungarians
The Szechenyi Academy of the top Palme d’Or award lost everything after the
Letters and Arts said Makk, at Cannes. country came under Soviet
who had been its president His 1982 film, “Another rule, initially meant for him
since 2011, died Wednes- Way,” was initially nomi- to become an engineer, a
day. It didn’t give a cause nated by Hungary for the common profession on his
of death. Oscar but was later with- In this Sept. 17, 2016 file photo, Hungarian film director and mother’s side of the family.
Makk’s film “Love,” one of drawn on orders from Ja- screenwriter Karoly Makk looks on during the 13th Jameson Information about survi-
the best films about the af- nos Kadar, Hungary’s post- CineFest International Film Festival in Miskolc. vors wasn’t immediately
termath of the failed 1956 1956 leader. Associated Press available.q