Roberts bDefends Guadagnino’s ‘After the Hunt’ While Fielding Questions About #MeToo in Venice
Oscar winner Julia Roberts defended her new film “After the Hunt” at a heated Venice Film Fest press conference, where the star was questioned about the movie’s statements surrounding the #MeToo movement and cancel culture.
In “After the Hunt,” Roberts plays Alma Olsson, a revered Ivy League professor who is forced to grapple with her own secretive past after one of her colleagues is accused of crossing a line with her student. Garfield plays Henrik “Hank” Gibson, the colleague of Roberts’ character, and “The Bear” breakout Edebiri is Maggie Price, Alma’s protégée who comes forward with the allegation.
Roberts waved off a question after she was asked whether “After the Hunt” was undermining the feminist movement. A journalist said that bthe movie “caused controversy” after a press screening by audience members who felt the story “revives old arguments” about believing woman who speak up about sexual assault allegations.
Though Roberts didn’t directly address the query, she wants the movie to bring up difficult conversations around the topic.
Roberts continued, “The best part of your question is that you all came out of the theater talking about it. That’s how we wanted it to feel. You realize what you believe in strongly because we stir it all up for you. So, you’re welcome.”
Asked again about the topic, Roberts denied that the film was attempting to stoke controversy and lamented that society is “losing the art of conversation in humanity right now.”
“After the Hunt” is playing out of competition at Venice, which is currently in full swing with recent and upcoming premieres of Lanthimos and Emma Stone’s conspiracy thriller “Bugonia,” George Clooney and Adam Sandler’s road-trip dramedy “Jay Kelly,” Kathryn Bigelow’s “The House of Dynamite” and Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson’s MMA drama “The Smashing Machine.”
The Italian director has a long history with the festival, having premiere the 2022’s “Bones and All,” 2018’s “Susperia” remake, 2015’s “A Bigger Splash” and others on the Lido.
Meanwhile, Roberts, Garfield and Edebiri are making their Venice Film Festival debut with “After the Hunt,” which premieres on Friday evening.
In a rare moment of levity at the tense press conference, Roberts asked her fellow cast members to simultaneously open the cans of water placed in front of them so “the noise doesn’t disrupt the incredible things we’re about to say.”
Garfield noted, “It was like that every day on set. When her can had to be opened, everyone’s had to be opened. That’s the microcosm of Julia Roberts.”
Julia Roberts got emotional as her new provocative movie, After the Hunt wowed Venice on at its world premiere on Friday night.
The Amazon MGM Studios release premiered on the Lido to a six-minute standing ovation. As the clapping continued, Roberts wiped away tears, blew kisses to the crowd and hugged her director and co-stars Ayo Edebiri (who also teared up).
Guadagnino and Roberts both paused to sign autographs on the red carpet before entering the packed Sala Grande to cheers of “Julia!” and “Luca!” Garfield was also a fan favorite, taking selfies with the crowd while sporting a sharp blue suit and freshly-shaven look.
