'The Wrestler' wins big at Venice Film Festival
Sunday, September 7, 2008 at 8:21AM | By Franck Tabouring Darren Aronofsky’s “The Wrestler” took home the prestigious Golden Lion Saturday at the 65th edition of the Venice Film Festival. 
Starring Mickey Rourke, the drama tells the story of a retired pro wrestler who risks his life by returning to the ring for one final match against his big rival. Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood co-star.
Ever since the film’s premiere at the festival, critics having raving about Rourke’s performance as lead character Randy “The Ram” Robinson. Some even speculated Rourke would leave the festival with the best actor award.
The Coppa Volpi Award for best actor, however, went to Silvio Orlando for his performance in “Il Papà di Giovanna” (Giovanna’s Father). Directed by Italian helmer Pupi Avati, the film centers on the relationship between a father and his daughter, who is committed to a psychiatric hospital after killing her best friend.
Meanwhile, Dominique Blanc received the best actress award for Patrick-Mario Bernard and Pierre Trividic’s French drama “L’Autre” (The Other). The story follows a woman who gets madly jealous when she discovers her ex-boyfriend has a new girlfriend.
