Kathryn Bigelow‘s gripping political thriller “A House of Dynamite,” which stars Idris Elba as the President of the United States, triggered an 11-minute ovation at the Venice Film Festival, where it premiered in competition on Tuesday night.
As the end credits rolled, Elba helped Bigelow to her feet and they politely applauded along with the audience. Meanwhile, Elba’s co-star Rebecca Ferguson blew kisses around the room in the Sala Grande Theater.
In the orchestra, a small-but-mighty group of fans were shouting, “Rebecca, we love you! Only you!” Bigelow, too, had her share of admirers in the audience. As the ovation approached the 10-minute mark, the crowd started chanting “Bigelow! Bigelow!” The “House of Dynamite” cast and crew basked in the reception — until they didn’t. By the time the cheering and hollering began to settle down, Bigelow, Elba, Ferguson and company were already heading up the stairs for the exit.
“A House of Dynamite” unfolds in top government situation rooms as White House officials scramble to deal with an incoming missile attack on the U.S. Bigelow was joined at the premiere by her star-studded cast, including Elba and Ferguson’s Greta Lee, Anthony Ramos, Tracy Letts, Jared Harris and Gabriel Basso.
“A House of Dynamite” is Bigelow’s first film since 2017 film “Detroit,” which dramatized the Detroit riots of 1967 and sparked some backlash upon its release. She was last on the Lido in 2008 with her Iraq War drama “The Hurt Locker,” which was embraced with a 10-minute standing ovation and went on to win best picture at the Oscars. Bigelow also became the first woman to win the best directing Oscar.
Earlier Tuesday, speaking at the production’s Venice press conference, Bigelow said she hopes “the film is an invitation to decide what to do about all these weapons.”
“My answer would be to initiate a reduction in the nuclear stockpile,” she said. “How is annihilating the world a good defensive measure?”
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