The 81st Venice Film Festival reached its zenith with the premiere of ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’, the highly anticipated sequel to the 2019 Oscar-winning film ‘Joker’. The film, starring Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn alongside Joaquin Phoenix reprising his role as Arthur Fleck/Joker, received an impressive 11-minute standing ovation from the audience.Lady Gaga made a striking appearance on the red carpet, accompanied by her fiancé Michael Polansky. She stunned onlookers in a black Christian Dior Haute Couture gown featuring a velvet bodice with a plunging neckline and a voluminous skirt. The look was completed with a unique lace headpiece designed by Philip Treacy, reminiscent of bat ears and jester hats, paying homage to the characters of Harley Quinn and Batman.Critical reception for the film has been largely positive, with particular praise directed towards Lady Gaga’s performance. Casting director Francine Maisler lauded Gaga, stating, ‘She is truly amazing. You will be blown away… She is able to keep up with [Joaquin Phoenix] and be real, which shows how good she is’.The film’s musical elements have been a point of intrigue and some controversy. Lady Gaga emphasized that while the film incorporates music, it shouldn’t be classified as a traditional musical, stating, ‘I wouldn’t necessarily say that this is actually a musical in a lot of ways’. She explained that the music is used to express the characters’ emotions rather than to tell a story.’Joker: Folie à Deux’ marks a return to the Venice Film Festival for the franchise, five years after the original ‘Joker’ won the Golden Lion. The film is set for international release on October 2 and domestic release on October 4, 2024.
Key points
- ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ received an 11-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival.
- Lady Gaga’s performance and red carpet appearance in a Dior gown and Philip Treacy headpiece garnered significant attention.
- The film’s classification as a musical has been a point of discussion, with Lady Gaga downplaying this aspect.
Contradictions👾There is a slight discrepancy in the reported length of the standing ovation, with one source citing 12 minutes while another reports 11 minutes.
